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Election 2016

Rubio Looked Like A New Man During Debate

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elephant and donkey bottle | Rubio Looked Like A New Man During Debate | featured | debate topics
  • Thursday's Republican debate in Texas was the last chance for Donald Trump's opponents to attack the man and try to regain some momentum going into Super Tuesday.
  • They were largely successful, with Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz both attacking Trump relentlessly on every issue.
  • Rubio did the best out of the debate and positioned himself as the “anti-Trump” that his party has wanted.
  • With Super Tuesday only days away, the attacks on Trump might have come too late.

HOUSTON (AP) — It was the final opportunity for Donald Trump's opponents to change the trajectory of the Republican presidential race before Super Tuesday, and they made the most of it.

The billionaire businessman was positioned at center stage on Thursday night at the GOP in Texas as the undisputed front-runner for his party's nomination, having won three consecutive primary contests.

His leading competitors, first-term Sens. Marco and Ted Cruz, sought to score a game-changing moment heading into a series of critical March 1 primary contests. Ohio Gov. John Kasich hoped to prove he and his optimistic message have a place in the race, while retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was just trying to get a word in.

Here are the top takeaways from Thursday's high-stakes :

Trump Under Fire

It took 10 , but Trump finally took fire from all of his leading rivals on national television.

The former reality television star was on his heels for extended stretches as and Cruz attacked him from either side of his place at center stage. They went after his business record, his personal wealth, a “fake” university that bears his name, his commitment to conservative social issues, his financial donations to Democrats and his lack of specifics on major policies.

Trump was clearly irritated at times, lashing out at his opponents and moderators alike. “Are you going to ask anybody else a question?” an agitated Trump asked at one point.

It was often not the picture of strength that Trump has portrayed for virtually the entire 2016 Republican primary season.

Rubio Outshines Cruz in Attach-dog Role

Marco wanted to come out as the strongest alternative to Trump on Thursday night. He largely succeeded.

The freshman senator from Florida set the tone early and delivered the quote of the night when he attacked the source of the billionaire businessman's wealth: “If he hadn't inherited $200 million, you know where Donald Trump would be right now? Selling watches in Manhattan,” charged.

Cruz joined the fight against Trump but was outshined consistently by , who responded to the urgency of the moment with Super Tuesday less than a week away.

While both and Cruz were effective, it was notable that bested his senate colleague on Cruz's home turf. Cruz is coming off three consecutive third-place finishes and could be forced out of the race if he loses to Trump in his home state of Texas on March 1.

Related: Everything To Know For The Latest Super Tuesday’s Primaries

Make America Great Again, But how?

Trump has won three consecutive primary contests by promising to “make America great again” — without saying how he'd go about it in much detail. And the Republican front-runner struggled Thursday night when pressed for those details — especially on health care.

Pushed by his competitors and the moderators to explain how he would replace President Barack Obama's signature federal health-care law, Trump repeated his call to allow people to buy health insurance across state lines.

“What else is part of your plan?” asked as Trump offered the same answer. “Now he's repeating himself,” went on, coyly referencing a previous in which Rubio badly hurt himself by repeating the same answer several times.

Given a final opportunity by the moderator to explain another way he'd replace the federal health care law, Trump offered only, “There's nothing to add.”

What About Me?

Kasich and Carson were ignored for long stretches of Thursday's , but each made their mark at times — albeit in very different ways.

The Ohio governor was stubbornly optimistic throughout the evening and refused to attack his rivals even in the midst of the most heated exchanges. “We have to stop this,” Kasich said at one point as the moderators briefly lost control. “Let's start solving problems,” he said during an extended pointed exchange on immigration.

Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, stood out briefly during the health care discussion, but seemed to acknowledge his own weak standing after finishing in last in two of the past three primary contests.

“Can somebody attack me please?” he asked at one point. His rivals ignored the request.

Too Little, Too Late?

Even if Thursday's performance dents Trump's momentum, it could be too little, too late, to loosen his tightening grasp on the Republican presidential nomination.

Unfortunately for Trump's critics — and there are many in the Republican Party — his main rivals waited until five days before Super Tuesday to attack him so aggressively in a .

Trump has a big lead in the early delegate count, and preference polls suggest he's well-positioned to add to it next week.

“I've dealt with much tougher,” Trump told CNN moments after the ended. “I really enjoyed it.”

Peoples reported from Atlanta.

Watch here at TDC the highlights of Trump and Rubio's debate:

By STEVE PEOPLES and WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

Follow Steve Peoples on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/sppeoples
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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12 Comments

12 Comments

  • Name says:

    He looked more like a rabbit about to be eaten. I think he has been put on notice by the GOP gestapo that he must win something even its rookie of the year. He is a white obama, a rookie senator who wants to learn on the job just like the one we have now, and look what he has done to our beloved country.

  • Mel says:

    He tried pulling the same tactics that where pulled on him by Cruze. He has no true accomplishments for the time he has served. Mr. Trump was born way before he was in diapers. Rubio doesn’t know because he was not alive. His childish laughing at Mr. Trump is disgusting and shows the kind of respect that he has for elders. I don’t trust him.

    • Mikial says:

      @Mel

      He has one accomplishment . . he and the gang of 8 pushed for amnesty for illegals. He’s probably worried that he will lose his standing in the illegals community if Trump wins.

  • Mary says:

    Finally he stood up to the “bully” Trump!

  • JAMES says:

    Trump would me the best thing that could happen to this country, but I fear War is imminent! and Obama will stay in power! if Putin fails up the agenda of the Zionist Jews and bankers, namely the Rothschild’s warburg Rockefeller and the rest, the have already undermined the and soitted on the Constitution and Hillary Clinton will become the First Woman President Like Or Not! Who ever the Rothschild want to become President will be President of the United States Corporation.

  • Bob says:

    He appears to be a liar! About his real plan for immigration, and for amnesty. I wouldn’t trust him any further than I could throw him. He is the ‘new’ establishment plant, displacing the Bush disappointment!

  • gail says:

    Rubio lacks plain old-fashioned common sense. He “attacked” just to say he did! His attack meant nothing more than a slap with a light weight glove. Rubio had days to plan for this–Trump had seconds.

  • Daren D. Theige says:

    I thought Rubio looked and sounded a fool as he always does!! Trump definitely outclassed him!!!

  • Martha Tucker says:

    I doubt that Rubio will get any where. he seems to to be too brasy some how. I don’t really like him. There is some thing about him that he is trying to cover up

  • AANTHONY says:

    M. R HAS HUNG HIMSELF BY ENGAGING IN BEINGA LOW LIFE CHARACTER. HE HAS REVEALED HIMSELF LIKE BEING IN A BAR ROOM BRAWL. AND A LOSER. HE DOES NOT CONFIRM TO PRESIDENTIAL STANDARDS . RATHER A LOW LIFE STREET ROWDY. IF HE PUTS HIMSELF IN THE WH. THE BIGGEST BENEFACTOR WILL BE FIDEL. WHO WILL USE THIS TO ENGAGE COMMUNIST RHETORIC AND PROPAGANDA HOW FINALLY CUBA DEFEATED USA AND A VICTORY FOR COMMUNISM. VOTERS USE YOUR GOOD SENSE.

    CANDIDAATE.

  • Jodi Dan says:

    Rubio? President? You have to be kidding. If he knew anything about the Constitution, he would know he is not eligible to Be president. His policies are NOT conservative, and NOT what the people want. He is just a little pip squeek traitor. A puffed-up adder, running around, striking out. This push to have Trump reveal his tax return is so stupid. A tax return does not tell anything about a man’s “worth.” He doesn’t know that? Does he know how to read a financial statement? Does he not know that Muslims CANNOT pledge allegiance to the United States unless they lie, which they have the okay to do, according to their Koran? Does he know anything about the crimes, diseases and drugs the illegals bring into this country? Is he going to move his mistress into the white house? Oh, well, that’s so common. Nothing new about that. But it would be nice to have a MORAL MAN in the White House. Someone get the hook and get Rubio off the political stage. I am sick of him. Little boy, go home.

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