Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., dropped out of the presidential race after a humiliating defeat by Donald Trump in the Florida primary. Rubio realized he has no chance of being the next leader of the free world. He couldn’t even win the support of his own state.
Rubio’s departure from the Republican race means that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, both have a better chance to defeat Trump and win the nomination. Rubio had the backing of many conservatives who knew Trump is obnoxious and arrogant, but unfortunately, he did not have enough support among the right.
Fortunately for Cruz, he may have a chance to make a comeback with Rubio gone. He has the second-highest delegate count at 411, according to the Associated Press. Trump stands at has 673, Kasich has 143 and Rubio ended with 169. A Republican needs 1,237 delegates to win the party’s nomination, and 1,061 delegates are available.
Rubio showed his distaste of Trump throughout the campaign by constantly clashing with and attacking him. If Rubio wishes to help this country and despises Trump as much as his campaign led on, he should endorse Cruz to rally his former supporters behind a candidate who can take on the reality-star-turned-politician.
With their combined delegate support, Cruz could close in on Trump with 580 delegates, Kasich still holds the wild card with his 143. Unfortunately, Kasich plans on wasting people’s time and handing the nomination to Trump by not supporting Cruz.
Kasich has the mentality that neither Cruz nor Trump can win the general primary, and he fantasizes winning the nomination. Kasich delivered a blow to Trump by winning Ohio, the governor’s home state. One state isn’t enough to win an election.
Kasich can either help defeat Trump by dropping out and endorsing Cruz, or allow Trump to secure the nomination. Rubio at least had the decency to know he had no chance and backed down.
If the current ratio of delegates spreads among the candidates until the 2,472 delegate cap is reached, it is unlikely Cruz or Trump will win the nomination outright. If that happens, a brokered convention will occur, where delegates switch allegiances and re-vote until a candidate has a clear majority.
Unless Trump’s support dies down, plenty of people will want to vote for whoever is currently winning.
Rubio and Kasich both campaigned themselves as the individual who can defeat Trump, but the truth is neither of them can nor will. The only choice for the party is to throw its support behind Ted Cruz, a real conservative. 
Garrett Marcel is a 22-year-old petroleum engineering senior from Houma, Louisiana.