Ahem — here’s the second section of today’s Morning Jolt:

Spare Me One Last Media-Generated ‘Kasich Surging’ Narrative
The Cleveland Plain Dealer asks, “Has John Kasich eclipsed Marco Rubio in the establishment lane?”
Dave Weigel reports from Kasich’s rally:
He took the stage at his election night party before half the Michigan votes were in. He declared a second place finish while that was very much in doubt. And then, almost as an afterthought, Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) shoved Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) out of the presidential race.
Metaphorically speaking.
“In the contest going forward, the three of us that remain — we are in a virtual dead heat,” said Kasich, surrounded by his family and by supporters in a hotel just blocks from Ohio’s state capitol. “The home court advantage is coming north, and next week, we’re going to win the state of Ohio.”
This is amazing round of good press for a guy who hasn’t won a state anywhere, who’s got 54 delegates to Rubio’s 154, and who has 1 million votes to Rubio’s 2.4 million votes. Kasich has won 6 counties so far; in with a greatly disappointing race, Rubio has won dozens, including some of the most densely populated.
Remember the “Midwestern Beachhead” that was going to give Kasich this awesome bargaining position at the Cleveland convention? Kasich finished third in Michigan last night, 8,000 votes behind Cruz. He won less than 6 percent in Minnesota. He was eighth, with less than 2 percent, in Iowa. He was fourth in Kansas, with 11 percent. Kasich is a rare example of a regional candidate who can’t win in, you know, his region.
As bad as last night was for Marco Rubio – and it was bad – there’s no logic to the idea that the guy who’s running a disappointing third should drop out so people can unite behind the distant fourth.