GOP debate without Trump?

Cruz gets blasted twice: Palin and Branstad

Ted Cruz took a beating this week. First as a candidate from the tea party movement Sarah Palin endorses Trump for his campaign.  Then the IA governor slams Cruz after Cruz accuses the IA governor as being part of the Washington cartel as he is often quoted to even his fellow republicans. 

Trump rewrites campaign rules.

Many pundits had Trump wrong in terms of his early viability. After many provocative comments that would have ended most traditional campaigns. But it's it's clear that Trump has ran a very untraditional campaign in part because he can.  Traditionally campaigns have had to run paid media in order to gain free media.  This has largely been untrue for Trump.

 Trump has such a media attraction that the media can't get enough enough of him despite his outrageous remarks.  So why am I stating the obvious?

Because ultimately the polls must translate into votes. Polls are not always accurate and national polls don't really matter because even though this is a federal election it is determined state by state.  Also many leading candidates running up to the primaries and caucuses did not ultimately get the nomination. 

For example in England and Israel the poll numbers ultimately did not bear out. Why? Because registered or likely voters don't always vote.