Republicans, you have one last chance to stop Trump

Republicans, you have one last chance.

Following his fourth-place finish in South Carolina, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ended his campaign for the White House, diminishing the hope among Republicans seeking a tolerable alternative to Donald Trump. On a night in which Nevada Democrats helped the chances of their more pragmatic candidate, Hillary Clinton, the GOP found itself with just one even-keeled option left in the race.

It is Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R). Kasich, to be clear, is no moderate. He believes as passionately as anyone in GOP fiscal dogma, promising big tax cuts, big spending cuts, a balanced budget, regulatory rollback and no funding for Planned Parenthood. He carries a national debt ticker around with him, displaying it on campaign stops. He also talks religion easily and frequently. But his campaign message often boils down to: Come on, guys, let’s be reasonable. “You’re an American before you’re a Republican, before you’re a Democrat,” he likes to say, blaming partisanship for many of the nation’s problems.

It’s true: Kasich does not have much of a shot. He places all his hopes in running up big wins in the Midwest. If he does not score well in Michigan’s March 8 primary, a contest he mentioned reverently on Saturday night, his campaign will likely be over. In effect, the GOP race is probably down to three: Trump, Cruz and Rubio.

But, Republicans, consider what is happening to your party: Donald Trump is your frontrunner, and there is only one reality-hardened governor left in the race to lead the GOP.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Republicans, you have one last chance to stop Trump."