He was hammered nearly from the start – not only by senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, but also by Fox News’ aggressive questioners and their slides and charts.
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In a mid-day speech Thursday, Romney stopped just short of calling the GOP front runner the 7th sign of the apocalypse.
Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and especially Gov. John Kasich, spoke with considerable specificity about their plans for taxes, the economy and global affairs, while Trump responded to most questions with insults, slogans and word salad.
Despite losing most states to Trump in Tuesday’s contest, Rubio continues to attack Trump, saying on Tuesday night that Trump is a “con artist” and vowing to fight on.
As supporters cheered, his opponents denounced Trump, chanting “No Fascists” and “No KKK”.
“If we nominate Donald, we’re going to spend the spring, the fall, and the summer with the Republican nominee facing a fraud trial”, he said. Republican candidates need 1,237 delegates to win the nomination.
“We’re gonna see on March 15 a narrowing of the field, and at that point, I wouldn’t be surprised if I endorse one of those guys”, Romney said.
Trump – who has repeatedly threatened the possibility of launching a third party bid should he feel that the party is treating him unfairly – also said he would back whoever the party crowns. When Trump took the debate stage for the first time in August, 17 candidates were seeking the Republican nomination.
Still, McCain spokesperson Rachael Dean told CBS News on Thursday that McCain still intends to support the nominee of the Republican Party.
Trump dismissed Romney as “a failed candidate” and an “embarrassment”. “Look, I go into the debates and I hope every question is a policy question”. “Donald Trump has basically mocked everybody with personal attacks”, Rubio said.
For Romney, Trump’s situation is much different. Romney said if you want to be the nominee you have to prosecute the opposition.
Trump’s response: “I have a very strong core”.
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When asked about a CNN report that Trump will raise outside money if he becomes the Republican nominee, Romney said, “it’s a form of hypocrisy that I think people will find shocking”.
