Republican presidential candidate, Sen.
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(CNN)Hours after locking horns with Donald Trump at CNN’s Republican presidential debate, Marco Rubio continued to batter the GOP presidential front-runner, repeatedly calling him a “con artist” and saying he is “wholly unprepared to be president of the United States”. The two men who will flank him on the debate stage – Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio – have so far been unable to step out of Trump’s shadow. Both Trump and Rubio are signaling they’re unwilling to cede Texas, the crown jewel of Super Tuesday, to the home state senator, Cruz.
Here are some of the most memorable quotes from the debate. “Selling watches in Manhattan”. And when Cruz challenged Trump’s conservative credentials by suggesting he’s been too cozy with Democrats, the front-runner ripped the senator for being loathed by many of his Senate colleagues.
“I hired tens of thousands of people”. Cruz said he would release his tax returns on Friday, and Rubio promised to release his this weekend.
Rubio said his mother was a maid in a hotel but if she’d sought a job in one of Trump’s Miami hotels, her place would have been taken by an illegal immigrant. Instead, Rubio took on Trump and Trump made fun of him then Cruz took on Trump and Trump made fun of him. Trump was asked to respond to Former Mexican President Vincente Fox’s statement about Trump’s plan to build a Mexican border wall at Mexico’s expense. There is no evidence that Trump’s supporters could be inclined to vote for a different candidate.
“He should be ashamed of himself and he should apologize”, declared Trump. “Why don’t you make them in America?” We’re going to win, win, win. Win, win, win. He’s winning in the polls…
Afterward, Trump called it “really one of my best debates – considering that I was being hit from all sides”.
Now, it should be noted that the poll didn’t test how Rubio would do one-on-one against Trump in Florida. He led Rubio 52 percent to 38 percent, Cruz 56 percent to 25 percent, and Kasich 47 percent to 32 percent.
Mr Rubio’s comments refer to reports of undocumented workers working at Trump properties.
Trump is a “target-rich environment”, Perry said.
Mr Trump answered: “We’re going to have many different plans”, as Mr Rubio interrupted, crying “he’s done it again!”. “You’re the basket case”. Hundreds of delegates will be up for grabs during Super Tuesday and there is near unanimity among political commentators that a good performance in the debate means higher number of seats for the victor.
And it’s not surprising who was the biggest talker of the debate.
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.
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At one point Mr Carson pleaded: “Can someone please attack me?” And maybe it’s just me, but I also don’t think that his excruciatingly ingratiating personality wears well over time.
