The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board, representing the more centrist wing of the Republican Party, celebrated Marco Rubio’s third-place finish in the first contest of the GOP presidential primary, crediting his “inclusive conservatism” for coming within a point of second place, and just behind Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.
“He won a plurality of late deciders according to the entrance polls, which suggests that he became the choice of mainstream conservatives who were looking beyond the Trump-Cruz slugfest,” the Journal said Tuesday. “The first-term Florida senator did especially well among voters who said they are looking for someone who can win in November. His speech Monday almost sounded like a victory statement, and its inclusive conservatism was clearly intended as a contrast to Mr. Cruz’s polarizing version.”
Rubio finished in a close third in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, though most polls did not anticipating him performing as well.
Leading into the contest, polls showed an effective tie between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. Cruz came out on top by just three points, but the Journal nonetheless said that meant Trump was the night’s “biggest loser.”
