The Monmouth University poll, conducted from March 3 to March 6 among likely Republican voters in the state, shows Trump with 38 percent of the vote, while Florida Sen. “Trump knows that Marco has the momentum in Florida and is afraid because he knows losing those 99 delegates to Marco will be a turning point in this race” . The ad begins with a clip of Trump holding forth on his Ivy League education and self-professed talent with language – he says he uses “the best words”. He lacks authenticity. If Rubio stays in the race and loses his own state, he will have a very hard time recovering politically. The polling could potentially provide some hope to establishment Republicans eager for signs of vulnerability on Trump’s part and fuel arguments for consolidation in the GOP race behind a single Trump challenger.
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“Florida has become an absolute do-or-die state for Marco Rubio”, said Baker, who has endorsed the senator. “I didn’t inherit money or a Rolodex from my parents”, Rubio told hundreds of supporters in a Sarasota airplane hangar, one of many references to Trump on the night.
Yes, Rubio has a great story but as his homestate’s rejection shows, it’s just a story. Afterward, Rubio turned from only indirectly critiquing Trump for months to an all-out assault on the businessman’s character and ethics, as well as his appearance and manliness. Trump has a 42% to 26% lead among those who have yet to vote.
The Republican frontrunner, Rubio said, ” has no serious solutions to America’s problems. “In Rubio, I don’t see the presidential gravitas”.
To date, Rubio has won only one state, Minnesota, and Puerto Rico in the Republican primary.
An independent conservative group is attempting to turn Donald Trump’s use profanity against him in a critical new ad targeting the Republican front-runner in Florida. Ninety-nine delegates will be at stake on March 15.
And in the general election, Clinton would start with an advantage over Trump in both states, leading in Florida and OH by 7 percentage points. “CNN is doing a disservice to voters by airing that sort of reporting without even checking with the campaign”, Alex Conant, Rubio’s communications director, said.
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Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa; AP writers Steve Peoples and Julie Bykowicz contributed from Washington.
