Still, the presidency is not decided by popular vote, and even getting the most electoral votes wouldn’t necessarily guarantee a candidate’s seat in the Oval Office.
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The two senators, who earlier had devoted considerable debate time to throwing sharp elbows at one another, pressed Trump aggressively on his conservative credentials, his business practices and changing policies. “I guarantee you there’s no problem”, Trump said.
The debate went down a negative path early on when Trump responded to Rubio’s contention last month that Trump had “small hands”.
At one point, discussion turned to Trump’s suggestion in a previous debate that as president, he would target terrorists’ families with military strikes and employ interrogation methods more severe than waterboarding. Otherwise, Romney said, Trump would likely lose the November 8 general election to expected Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton.
“I think Donald Trump is terrifying, and I absolutely hate what he stands for”, Clinton said in an email to her supporters, hours after Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee blasted his party’s own presidential front-runner. “His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University”. “To go out and to publicly chastise Trump because Trump is winning: Is that the American way?” “He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat”, he continued. Romney all but explicitly called for a messy convention floor battle, the likes of which neither party has witnessed in decades. “He failed miserably and it was an embarrassment to everybody”.
“Give me a break”, said Trump.
But Romney dismissed the suggestion that he is positioning himself to enter the ring. “You can see how loyal he is”.
Being in Donald Trump’s magnificent hotel and having his endorsement is a delight. “I have no interest in talking about that”.
Rubio was also bested by Trump in several exchanges, including on Trump’s support within the party.
Trump’s apparent moderation amid a war of insults between the Republican candidates marked a frenzied day on the campaign trail as the NY real estate mogul’s grip on his party’s presidential nomination appears to be tightening.
Trump also described Romney as a “failed candidate”, and told NBC’s Today program that Romney was a “stiff” who “will not get elected”, criticizing him for losing the 2012 election to President Barack Obama.
Rubio then jumped in: “When they’re done with the yoga, can I answer a question?”
But any number of predictions that GOP voters would unite behind one anti-Trump candidate have come and gone without a change in the overall dynamic.
The candidates are meeting two days after Trump dominated the Super Tuesday contests, notching seven victories and picking up hundreds of new delegates.
Florida votes on March 15 and is Rubio’s firewall, even though Trump leads there in polls.
“This little guy has lied so much about my record”, Trump countered.
‘Republicans are reaping the whirlwind right now, and Democrats should seize the chance to show Americans an alternative to Mr Trump’s politics of rage, and an image of themselves to be proud of, not shrink from, ‘ The New York Times observed. “You see what happens again when you challenge him on a policy issue?”
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Welcome to the Republican Party of 2016, where money means little, endorsements mean less and celebrity trumps experience every time.
