SUCCESSFUL in Iowa and surging in New Hampshire, Marco Rubio went into the last televised Republican debate on February 6th knowing two things. He was due a pasting—especially from the three governors, Chris Christie, John Kasich and Jeb Bush, who are vying with him for the mainstream conservative vote. Second, if he could cope with their attacks well, he would have a gilded opportunity to impress both New Hampshire voters, ahead of the state’s primary election on February 9th, and the Republican moneymen looking anxiously for an antidote to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. In the event, Mr Rubio flunked his chance.
In the predicted pile-on it was Mr Christie, also predictably, who landed the most stinging blows on the fresh-faced senator from Florida. “You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable. You just simply haven’t,” he harangued Mr Rubio—and the senator’s response to Mr Christie’s onslaught was toe-curling bad.
Accused by the New Jersey governor of too easily resorting to a “memorised 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end,” Mr...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/1nVGqpd
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