Fmr. Florida Speaker: I’m ‘Shocked’ at How Donald Trump Has ‘Hijacked’ the GOP

RUSH TRANSCRIPT: 
BRZEZINSKI: "Former speaker of the house of representatives, Will Weatherford. He endorsed senator Marco Rubio for president late last month. He previously supported former Florida governor, Jeb Bush. So who’s next? Who are you going to endorse next?"
SCARBOROUGH: "Stop that! So, will, what is — I know you’re a big Jeb fan. Does Marco get out of the race tonight if he doesn’t win?"
WEATHERFORD: "Look, it would certainly be tough for him to go forward if he loses tonight. But what I would say is, over half the electorate in Florida has already voted, Joe. As you know, early voting and absentee is huge in Florida. Turnout is high in south Florida. So it’s an uphill battle for Marco tonight. But with all the numbers that are showing up, I think it’s going to be a little bit tighter than people anticipate."
SCARBOROUGH: "You know the state, especially. Why does Donald Trump have such a hold over this state? Why is he doing so well in north Florida, down to south Florida? Explain to me —"
WEATHERFORD: "It’s been shocking —"
SCARBOROUGH: "Explain to people outside the state of Florida why trump’s populism sells so well there."
WEATHERFORD: "Well, Florida is regional, you know? The panhandle has a different electorate than central Florida and the I-4 corridor and then you’ve got south Florida. There are sections to Florida. He’s certainly going to do well in the panhandle. But I’ve got to say, Joe, I’ve just been shocked at the way the Republican party has just allowed this person to hijack what I believe are our principles and what we stand for as a party. The things he’s said and done are so offensive, I don’t know how he wins in November. And he may win in Florida in a primary, but you and I both know, when he comes to Florida as the nominee, if he were to get there, this is a much different place to run in. And I think the critical error we made as a party and as an electorate was early on, last full, when Jeb Bush was going after Donald Trump and everyone else, as Jeb called it, was in the witness protection program, we had an opportunity back then to really define Donald Trump and we lost it. And now here we are."