Beau

But in this case, Trump wanted to throw a little weight around.

If he had done this and his endorsement caused the other candidate to drop out, it would make him look like less of a lame duck.

But the definitely not a lame duck Trump with a totally competent staff turned out to be late.

Late for a very important date.

They missed a critical deadline.

Neither candidate can take their name off the ballot now.

See, under Texas state law, the final date to pull your name isn't really a date.

It's three days after the results of the runoff are finalized.

That was Tuesday at 5 p.m.

So now, Trump can make his endorsement, but it doesn't matter.

Both Republican candidates will be on the ballot.

That means people will still vote the way they decide to vote.

So even if Trump makes his endorsement, and even if the candidates don't actively campaign after that, it's still up to the voters.

What's more likely is that Paxton and Cornyn end up slinging mud, maybe after a brief interlude.

They spend money.

They undercut each other.

They fight.

They create division.

Maybe they'll find their way out of this.

But right now, it appears that a primary fight is all but guaranteed.