Rubio’s Support Of Kasich In Ohio Undermines Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment.. Rubio elections retires in Florida

With the revelation Sen. Marco Rubio indicated he wouldn't mind if his supporters in Ohio backed Gov. John Kasich in Survival Tuesday's primary to stop Donald Trump, this year’s gaggle of Republican candidates is giving a whole new meaning to former President Ronald Reagan’s “The Eleventh Commandment.” In fact, Rubio’s new commandment might actually cause the implosion of the Republican Party.

Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment

Although popularized by Reagan, the commandment was actually created by California Republican Party Chairman Gaylord Parkinson.

Evidently, personal attacks against fellow Republican candidates were becoming so ridiculous and virulent in 1980, Parkinson had to intervene and suggest an Eleventh Commandment: Thou shall not speak ill of any other Republican, a rule Reagan claimed to have followed.

2016 Survival Tuesday and Rubio’s Quid Pro Quo

Fast-forward to 2016 and two of the most important Republican primary states on Survival Tuesday: Florida and Ohio.

Though Rubio is a senator from Florida, his absentee voting record in the Senate and Gang of Eight bill, which automatically granted citizenship status to undocumented immigrants, have made him extremely unpopular among many Republicans. Moreover, some believe his is part of the Republican Establishment.

As a result of his low approval ratings and with polls showing he is trailing Trump by double digits, Rubio tried to stage a quid pro quo with Kasich who is governor of Ohio.

Not only did Rubio suggest his voters in Ohio vote for Kasich who is also trailing Trump, but proposed Kasich encourage his voters in Florida to vote for him. As a result, Rubio theorized that both would win their respective states while blocking Trump.

Another important factor is both Florida and Ohio are winner-take-all-states. In fact, a total of 405 delegates are at stake, 246 in Florida and 159 in Ohio.

Therefore, Rubio winning Florida and Kasich winning Ohio would cement a brokered convention, something Rubio, Kasich and the Republican Establishment would like to see. A Trump victory, on the other hand, would probably ensure him the Republican nomination.

Kasich: We’re Going to Win Ohio Just as Rubio Is Going to Lose Florida

For now, however, Rubio’s Survival Tuesday solution might have to be put on hold. Indeed, last week Kasich’s spokesman Rob Nichols responded by saying, “We were going to win in Ohio without his help, just as he’s going to lose in Florida without ours.”

Furthermore, Rubio has indicated even if Trump is nominated he will probably not support him. Kasich, meanwhile, has accused Trump of creating a “toxic environment.”

How Jeb Bush Might Have Ensured a Trump Victory in Florida

Another interesting twist in Rubio’s Florida fiasco are the 200,00 absentee and early voting ballots that have already been cast.

Indeed, tens of thousands of absentee and early voters already voted for former Gov. Jeb Bush before he dropped out of Survival Tuesday. What’s more, what an ironic twist of fate it would be if Jeb’s early exit ultimately helped Trump win Florida.

Considering this year’s mudslinging and false accusations, including the secret deals and no deals and too many personal attacks to keep track of, it appears Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment has become more like a free for all “Thou shall win at any cost even if it means total obliteration.”

The only problem for Republicans is this might entail the entire party. But then at least the Republican Establishment could start over again.