House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday he thinks the Republican presidential race has become a two-man race between businessman Donald Trump, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
“Personally, I think it’s down to a two-person race,” McCarthy said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
The California Republican went on to say Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s virtual tie with Rubio for second place in South Carolina did nothing to help his campaign before the Nevada Caucuses on February 23, and Super Tuesday one week later.
“I thought Cruz had the best of his ability mapping out, but not winning in South Carolina, that’s difficult for him,” the House Majority Leader said.
“The bigger advantage is to Trump,” McCarthy explained. “I think there’s more than a 50% chance he’s the nominee. And I think that’s what’s setting in for a lot of people.”
When asked by host Joe Scarborough whether he could work with Trump, McCarthy quickly answered “Oh yeah, definitely.” When asked the same question about Cruz, McCarthy paused and said “that’s an unfair question.”
The California Republican offered praise for Ohio Gov. John Kasich saying he would make an “excellent” president, and “being a governor is a great training ground to be president.”