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| Rubio takes off the gloves to thump Trump – but is it already too late? Rubio takes off the gloves to thump Trump – but is it already too late? | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Mounting a stage at a public park in downtown Dallas, Marco Rubio pulled out his phone before a crowd of more than 3,000 and began reading from Donald Trump’s Twitter account. | Mounting a stage at a public park in downtown Dallas, Marco Rubio pulled out his phone before a crowd of more than 3,000 and began reading from Donald Trump’s Twitter account. |
| In an extended opening to his stump speech on Friday, Rubio relentlessly mocked the Republican frontrunner for misspelling a series of tweets. | In an extended opening to his stump speech on Friday, Rubio relentlessly mocked the Republican frontrunner for misspelling a series of tweets. |
| “Just like Trump Tower, he must have found a foreign worker to do his own tweets,” Rubio quipped. | “Just like Trump Tower, he must have found a foreign worker to do his own tweets,” Rubio quipped. |
| It was the sort of theatricality usually associated with Trump, the bombastic showman. But bravado is clearly catching in the Republican primary race, where with only four states decided, there is mounting hysteria that Donald J Trump’s hostile takeover of the Republican party is a done deal. | It was the sort of theatricality usually associated with Trump, the bombastic showman. But bravado is clearly catching in the Republican primary race, where with only four states decided, there is mounting hysteria that Donald J Trump’s hostile takeover of the Republican party is a done deal. |
| Jeb Bush is long gone, and for the party grandees, fresh-faced Rubio, the 44-year-old Florida senator, is all that stands in the way of Trump or the unpalatable Texas senator Ted Cruz. | Jeb Bush is long gone, and for the party grandees, fresh-faced Rubio, the 44-year-old Florida senator, is all that stands in the way of Trump or the unpalatable Texas senator Ted Cruz. |
| Can Rubio be the Trump slayer? | Can Rubio be the Trump slayer? |
| Until now, Rubio had shied away from confrontation with the boorish frontrunner. But with the clock ticking and no victories so far, Rubio took Trump on in the final televised debate before this week’s Super Tuesday contest in 12 states which could put the billionaire way out in front. | Until now, Rubio had shied away from confrontation with the boorish frontrunner. But with the clock ticking and no victories so far, Rubio took Trump on in the final televised debate before this week’s Super Tuesday contest in 12 states which could put the billionaire way out in front. |
| Rubio shed his nice-guy image in the debate in Houston, needling Trump on virtually every aspect of his candidacy: his record of hiring foreign workers for his grand real estate projects; on disguising himself as a conservative, citing Trump’s prior support for the family planning group Planned Parenthood; and more fundamentally, as a man lacking in substance. | Rubio shed his nice-guy image in the debate in Houston, needling Trump on virtually every aspect of his candidacy: his record of hiring foreign workers for his grand real estate projects; on disguising himself as a conservative, citing Trump’s prior support for the family planning group Planned Parenthood; and more fundamentally, as a man lacking in substance. |
| “You say the same thing every night,” Rubio said, standing alongside Trump on the stage. “Everyone’s dumb, I’m going to make America great again, I’m winning in the polls, lines around the states, every night.” | “You say the same thing every night,” Rubio said, standing alongside Trump on the stage. “Everyone’s dumb, I’m going to make America great again, I’m winning in the polls, lines around the states, every night.” |
| It was a performance that grabbed most of the night’s headlines, and left as reporters and pundits wondered why Rubio had not unveiled this version of himself sooner. The senator’s team insisted the timing came not from desperation but was a concerted calculation. | It was a performance that grabbed most of the night’s headlines, and left as reporters and pundits wondered why Rubio had not unveiled this version of himself sooner. The senator’s team insisted the timing came not from desperation but was a concerted calculation. |
| “If we have to be a part of the circus in order to get people to pay attention to Marco’s substantive policy proposals, then let us in the ring,” Harris told reporters on Friday. | “If we have to be a part of the circus in order to get people to pay attention to Marco’s substantive policy proposals, then let us in the ring,” Harris told reporters on Friday. |
| “We felt like this was the exact right time to show the Republican base that Marco Rubio is the one candidate best able to take on and take out Donald Trump.” | “We felt like this was the exact right time to show the Republican base that Marco Rubio is the one candidate best able to take on and take out Donald Trump.” |
| The strange truth, in a truly unusual race, is that at a surface level everything has gone precisely to plan for Rubio. | The strange truth, in a truly unusual race, is that at a surface level everything has gone precisely to plan for Rubio. |
| First, he disposed of Bush, whose exit from the race after the South Carolina primary prompted a rush of endorsements for Rubio and commitments from high-dollar donors. He has also begun to inch ahead of Cruz, the other Cuban-American first-term senator, campaigning from the evangelical, social conservative right. | First, he disposed of Bush, whose exit from the race after the South Carolina primary prompted a rush of endorsements for Rubio and commitments from high-dollar donors. He has also begun to inch ahead of Cruz, the other Cuban-American first-term senator, campaigning from the evangelical, social conservative right. |
| The trouble is Rubio’s map to the nomination made no mention of Trump, who steamrolls on and is poised for a near-sweep on Super Tuesday, a day that could prove decisive for both parties. | The trouble is Rubio’s map to the nomination made no mention of Trump, who steamrolls on and is poised for a near-sweep on Super Tuesday, a day that could prove decisive for both parties. |
| On the Republican side, 595 delegates – roughly a quarter of the total required to clinch the nomination – are at stake across a dozen states. For Democrats, a once-competitive race looks more predictable: Hillary Clinton is expected to score big victories over Bernie Sanders and cement her status as the presumptive nominee. | On the Republican side, 595 delegates – roughly a quarter of the total required to clinch the nomination – are at stake across a dozen states. For Democrats, a once-competitive race looks more predictable: Hillary Clinton is expected to score big victories over Bernie Sanders and cement her status as the presumptive nominee. |
| Whether buzzing across the early voting states or the southern states set to vote next, Rubio has argued what many Democrats privately acknowledge: he is the Republican who can defeat Clinton. | Whether buzzing across the early voting states or the southern states set to vote next, Rubio has argued what many Democrats privately acknowledge: he is the Republican who can defeat Clinton. |
| Invoking his humble beginnings as the son of working-class immigrants, Rubio vows to reach voters long forgotten by the Republican party. | Invoking his humble beginnings as the son of working-class immigrants, Rubio vows to reach voters long forgotten by the Republican party. |
| “We’re going to take our message to the people who are struggling paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “To the students living under the burden of student loans, to the families struggling to raise their children with the right values, we will take our message to them and bring them to our side.” | “We’re going to take our message to the people who are struggling paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “To the students living under the burden of student loans, to the families struggling to raise their children with the right values, we will take our message to them and bring them to our side.” |
| Rubio tried to win voters of this demographic last week, at a hotel and casino on the southern end of the Las Vegas valley last week. On the morning of the Nevada caucuses, in the state where Rubio spent some of his childhood, he recounted that his parents had worked as a bartender and a maid in a place much like the Silverton casino. | Rubio tried to win voters of this demographic last week, at a hotel and casino on the southern end of the Las Vegas valley last week. On the morning of the Nevada caucuses, in the state where Rubio spent some of his childhood, he recounted that his parents had worked as a bartender and a maid in a place much like the Silverton casino. |
| “They park cars here at the valet and they sweep up the floors in the casino and they clean your room after you use it and they serve you your drinks and your food, and they work behind the tables,” Rubio said of hotel workers. “These people that are working here, they haven’t heard from conservatives in a long time.” | “They park cars here at the valet and they sweep up the floors in the casino and they clean your room after you use it and they serve you your drinks and your food, and they work behind the tables,” Rubio said of hotel workers. “These people that are working here, they haven’t heard from conservatives in a long time.” |
| He won a standing ovation and was mobbed by the crowd. Yet their exuberance made little difference in the fourth Republican contest: another resounding win for Trump, with Rubio finishing a distant second. | He won a standing ovation and was mobbed by the crowd. Yet their exuberance made little difference in the fourth Republican contest: another resounding win for Trump, with Rubio finishing a distant second. |
| It embodied in many ways Rubio’s greatest challenge: voters have shown little regard for electability, ideas or policy, and preferred the sheer personality of a candidate like Trump. | It embodied in many ways Rubio’s greatest challenge: voters have shown little regard for electability, ideas or policy, and preferred the sheer personality of a candidate like Trump. |
| Rob Damwijk, a tourist from San Diego who attended Rubio’s Las Vegas rally, reflected the contradiction near perfectly. The California native, who plans to vote in his state’s primary in June, said he was torn between Rubio and Trump. | Rob Damwijk, a tourist from San Diego who attended Rubio’s Las Vegas rally, reflected the contradiction near perfectly. The California native, who plans to vote in his state’s primary in June, said he was torn between Rubio and Trump. |
| “There were moments where I was moved to tears,” he said of Rubio. “He seems very committed and dedicated to average Americans.” | “There were moments where I was moved to tears,” he said of Rubio. “He seems very committed and dedicated to average Americans.” |
| So why, then, would Damwijk consider Trump? | So why, then, would Damwijk consider Trump? |
| “He’s like the bad boy in class. And if you were going to be protected by somebody, that’s who you would stand behind.” | “He’s like the bad boy in class. And if you were going to be protected by somebody, that’s who you would stand behind.” |
| Rubio is making a mark, but he has yet to win a state. The senator believes he will win his home state of Florida. But even there, Trump holds a double-digit lead, and a loss for Rubio on 15 March would probably be a fatal blow. | Rubio is making a mark, but he has yet to win a state. The senator believes he will win his home state of Florida. But even there, Trump holds a double-digit lead, and a loss for Rubio on 15 March would probably be a fatal blow. |
| Reports have suggested Rubio’s campaign is preparing for a so-called brokered convention, which would, in essence, require Trump’s opponents collude to rob him of the winning margin of 1,237 delegates required to secure the nomination. Though not out of the realm of plausibility, it would be a historic feat. | Reports have suggested Rubio’s campaign is preparing for a so-called brokered convention, which would, in essence, require Trump’s opponents collude to rob him of the winning margin of 1,237 delegates required to secure the nomination. Though not out of the realm of plausibility, it would be a historic feat. |
| There are other remaining hurdles, too, should Rubio succeed. Democrats have eagerly tied the entire Republican field to Trump and his outlandish statements, particularly those directed towards immigrants. | There are other remaining hurdles, too, should Rubio succeed. Democrats have eagerly tied the entire Republican field to Trump and his outlandish statements, particularly those directed towards immigrants. |
| Aboard his campaign bus, Rubio recently reflected on his desire to expand the appeal of Republicans, telling reporters: “I think the party will largely be defined by who the nominee is. | Aboard his campaign bus, Rubio recently reflected on his desire to expand the appeal of Republicans, telling reporters: “I think the party will largely be defined by who the nominee is. |
| “That’s why I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the plight of single women living on the edge of poverty, about empowering majority minority communities through education, and about student loan debt.” | “That’s why I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the plight of single women living on the edge of poverty, about empowering majority minority communities through education, and about student loan debt.” |
| Asked by the Guardian whether he was at least surprised by Trump’s success – Rubio had for weeks dismissed the reality TV star as a sideshow – the senator suggested that everyone was surprised. | Asked by the Guardian whether he was at least surprised by Trump’s success – Rubio had for weeks dismissed the reality TV star as a sideshow – the senator suggested that everyone was surprised. |
| “I don’t think anyone took him seriously at first,” Rubio said. “But I still don’t think he will be the nominee.” | “I don’t think anyone took him seriously at first,” Rubio said. “But I still don’t think he will be the nominee.” |
| Rubio’s new strategy, of attacking Trump for lacking specific proposals and foreign policy expertise, tracks more remarks the senator made early in the campaign. In one interview last fall, for instance, Rubio referred to Trump as “a freak show” who was both “touchy” and “insecure”. But until Trump proved he could dominate an election, and not simply polls, Rubio only criticized Trump’s controversial statements, and not the man himself. | Rubio’s new strategy, of attacking Trump for lacking specific proposals and foreign policy expertise, tracks more remarks the senator made early in the campaign. In one interview last fall, for instance, Rubio referred to Trump as “a freak show” who was both “touchy” and “insecure”. But until Trump proved he could dominate an election, and not simply polls, Rubio only criticized Trump’s controversial statements, and not the man himself. |
| The senator now finds himself losing state after state to the billionaire, and forced to tap into the anger and frustration that Trump has unearthed ahead of the biggest voting day of the primary campaign. | The senator now finds himself losing state after state to the billionaire, and forced to tap into the anger and frustration that Trump has unearthed ahead of the biggest voting day of the primary campaign. |
| Super Tuesday: day of decision | Super Tuesday: day of decision |
| Super Tuesday is the biggest single night of the protracted process by which Republican and Democratic parties choose their nominees to run for president. | Super Tuesday is the biggest single night of the protracted process by which Republican and Democratic parties choose their nominees to run for president. |
| This week, 12 states plus American Samoa and Democrats abroad will hold primaries or caucuses to dole out delegates among the remaining candidates. | This week, 12 states plus American Samoa and Democrats abroad will hold primaries or caucuses to dole out delegates among the remaining candidates. |
| Despite the excitement of early contests very few delegates have been pledged so far. Super Tuesday changes all that. | Despite the excitement of early contests very few delegates have been pledged so far. Super Tuesday changes all that. |
| The band of voting states, running from New England through the south and into the west, carry far more delegates than the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. This year Super Tuesday is weighted towards southern states as Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas all vote. | The band of voting states, running from New England through the south and into the west, carry far more delegates than the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. This year Super Tuesday is weighted towards southern states as Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas all vote. |
| For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders by 502 to 70, according to an Associated Press estimate that also tallies ”super delegates”, who are free to decide whom to back at the July convention, regardless of the state-by-state primary results. | For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders by 502 to 70, according to an Associated Press estimate that also tallies ”super delegates”, who are free to decide whom to back at the July convention, regardless of the state-by-state primary results. |
| Clinton’s success with black voters in Nevada suggests she will do well in the south, while Sanders has captured young voters and will expect to push hardest in Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado and Minnesota. | Clinton’s success with black voters in Nevada suggests she will do well in the south, while Sanders has captured young voters and will expect to push hardest in Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado and Minnesota. |
| For Republicans, the quest to stop Trump may come down to a few key states. Texas native Cruz needs a big majority of his state’s 155 delegates, and Rubio will hope to cut through in cities and suburbs, for instance in Georgia and Virginia. | For Republicans, the quest to stop Trump may come down to a few key states. Texas native Cruz needs a big majority of his state’s 155 delegates, and Rubio will hope to cut through in cities and suburbs, for instance in Georgia and Virginia. |
| Super Tuesday’s delegates are given out proportionally to results. On 15 March, the delegate-rich states of Ohio, Florida and Illinois will hold winner-take-all contests. But momentum from success on Super Tuesday could be decisive in both election days. | Super Tuesday’s delegates are given out proportionally to results. On 15 March, the delegate-rich states of Ohio, Florida and Illinois will hold winner-take-all contests. But momentum from success on Super Tuesday could be decisive in both election days. |