CNN’s Mattingly on Trump: ‘Air of Inevitability Starting to Set in for the Republican Field’

TAPPER: "Phil Mattingly is in Virginia where Donald Trump spoke earlier at the Christian school founded by pat Robertson. It’s almost as if trump has so much momentum people are asking as if he’s the nominee. People are asking what he would do on the first day of his presidency."
MATTINGLY: "And he has some rather ambitious plans on day one. If you look at what’s happening in the Republican race right now, it’s not that outlandish of a question. GOP operatives across the different campaigns noting if something doesn’t change quickly, Donald Trump is in a very good place. A sweeping victory."
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TRUMP:: "We weren’t expected to win too much and now we’re winning, winning, winning the country. And soon the country is going to start winning, winning, winning."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): "An air of inevitability starting to set in for the Republican field. For Donald Trump, winner of three straight contests, a to do list for his first day in office."
TRUMP: "The first thing I’d do is knock out some of the executive orders signed by our president, especially the one on the border. I’m going to work out immediately to knock out Obamacare and we’ll start taking care of the vets and our military."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): "For other Republican candidates, a furious sprint to forestall a trump nomination. Texas senator Ted Cruz picking up the endorsement of his home state governor, Greg Abbott, just days away from the crucial Texas primary."
CRUZ: "We got six days. Six days to lead in Texas, to lead the country, so let’s get to work."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): "Florida senator Marco Rubio, big name endorsements and big donors flocking his way, trying to convince all that there are states he can win."
RUBIO: "I didn’t run for office to tear up other Republicans. I’m going to tell people who I am and why I’m running and I’m going to give them a choice. If they elect me, they’ll have someone who unifies this party, governs this party responsibly."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): "And Ohio governor John Kasich campaigning in Mississippi and Louisiana."
KASICH: "It’s really not what the score is at the first quarter, it’s what the score is at the end of the game."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): "While also setting his sights squarely on other March contests in Michigan and in his home state of Ohio, vital to his hopes for survival. Now each candidate mapping out a crucial week ahead in the lead-up to super Tuesday. Trump starting in Virginia today."
TRUMP: "Senator Cruz gave us Obamacare in a true sense."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): "And moving on to his swing in the deep south. Rubio and Cruz targeting their own must-win states."
RUBIO: "I didn’t just become a conservative like a year and a half ago when I thought about running for president."
CRUZ: "The only campaign that has beaten Donald Trump and the only campaign that can beat Donald Trump is this campaign."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): "All trying to halt or at least slow the momentum that has some willing to proclaim the race may already be over.

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MATTINGLY: "Now, Jake, the reality is there is still time. 25% of the delegates available in the Republican primary contest up for grabs on super Tuesday and we’re not even to the winner-take-all states that come into play March 15th. As long as the race stays the way it is right now, the dynamic setting with this many candidates all battling it out for second place, there’s not a lot of hope that somebody is going to step up and really take Donald Trump on soon. Tomorrow night in Houston will be a really good at least opening act to seeing what the plans are for what comes next, Jake."