The same pollsters, taking the temperature of the Democratic race, showed Bernie Sanders, from neighboring Vermont, still in control with a 56-40 lead over Hillary Clinton. In the latest CNN/WMUR tracking poll, for example, fully 30% of likely Republican voters said they hadn’t yet decided whom to support, as did 16% of likely Democratic voters.
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Rubio’s limited experience came under fire during Saturday’s debate as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) skewered the first-term senator over his robotic performance and lack of credentials.
Last night, 6 February, the Republicans held a presidential debate in New Hampshire.
In the most recent GOP debate, Rubio repeated the canned line, “Let’s dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing”. “We’re dividing and conquering”, said the younger Trump of his father’s absence.
Memorization is great on the lecture circuit but for a candidate under the microscope of the electorate, Rubio appears to be slightly more intelligent than Siri in his ability to think for himself.
Rubio was back on message Sunday. But there are important differences that New Hampshire has from Iowa: It’s a primary, not a caucus; independents, not evangelicals, play a significant role; and there is no clear/obvious threat (like Ted Cruz was in Iowa).
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Rubio has also spent heavily on ads in SC, data show, where the Cruz-aligned Keep the Promise I PAC has been running ads attacking Trump. “Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but normally it does”. Compared with Iowa, where low-turnout caucuses mean that finding actual caucusgoers can require tens of thousands of calls to adults or registered voters, New Hampshire is a breeze to poll. (Don’t bet on it after the debate):No matter who finishes second/third/fourth/fifth in New Hampshire, don’t expect anyone to drop out after New Hampshire, especially after smelling blood versus Rubio. He wasn’t expected to repeat his performance in Iowa, which depended largely on a strong showing with the state’s evangelical voters. Cruz is expected to find more receptive voters in SC, where the contest moves next. “Did you see the debate last night?” “Is it fantastic that we have such an array of wonderful, talented, and dynamic Republican candidates for president?”
