Too Late For Another GOP Hopeful? Yes. - Jonathan Tobin

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/12/08/gop-race-candidates-ryan-rubio/

As Tobin points out, had a Rubio or Ryan been able to enter the race, one thinks they would have already done so.

It’s fair to ask why if Paul Ryan or Marco Rubio or Mr. or Ms. Unknown chose not to run back in the summer when they could have entered every primary (the filing dates for many states has already passed), they would do so now? Let’s just say if they had really wanted to run, they already would have.

Instead the GOP is left with its two worst nightmares: a RINO and the world's biggest putz. One of these two people, and no others, will be the Republican nominee. One will depress the base and the other will excite them and repulse all others. Only one has a realistic chance of beating Obama, and even that's not certain.

Why? Well, the Tea Party weaned out some good candidates, some like Christie never would have withstood a scrutiny of their conservatism. Others like Mitch Daniels had some weird personal problems. It was more a luck of the draw that ended them up here, not any one factor. But, here they are.