MARTHA MACCALLUM (GUEST HOST): You know, obviously Donald Trump feels he did great last night in the debate, he always feels very strong coming out of these debates. And his supporter would agree, no doubt. But your point is right on, that it was a master stroke in terms of moving the conversation. And it almost feels, Howie, that the Trump campaign sort of has, you know, has it in its docket. Sort of like okay ready for this one. You know, as if you're putting another one in the barrel and then when the next moment comes along, let's roll out that. It's very, very well done in terms of the way it plays in the media, would you say?
HOWARD KURTZ: Well, yeah. In fact, I'm told that Donald Trump had this endorsement in his back pocket for some time, choosing today to roll it out. I don't agree that he was exposed and humiliated in the debate. It was a rough, bar room brawl of a debate, and he got scratched up at times as he went toe to toe, especially with Marco Rubio. But here's the thing, you know endorsements I think matter a lot more to the media than average voters. This one is important for this reason, the Republican establishment, the remnants of the establishment and the conservative media establishment are right now engaged in a last-minute, last-dash somewhat desperate effort to stop Trump from rolling to this nomination and to paint him as a dangerous figure who is a threat to conservatism, to the Republican Party and to the country. Along comes Chris Christie, two term governor in a blue state, who had been up there on the presidential stage, not only lending his credibility to Trump, but kind of opening the door for other establishment figures to do the same. And I'm told the Trump campaign has about a half dozen other state-wide officials it will roll out as well.
