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| Republican rising star Marco Rubio passes $1m raised since debate | Republican rising star Marco Rubio passes $1m raised since debate |
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| Marco Rubio has raised more than $1m since the Republican presidential debate less than three days ago, a campaign aide said on Saturday. | Marco Rubio has raised more than $1m since the Republican presidential debate less than three days ago, a campaign aide said on Saturday. |
| Related: Iowa social conservatives laud Marco Rubio – and his competition | |
| The fundraising boost, largely in the way of small donations, follows a debate that has been dubbed a breakthrough moment for Rubio and his campaign. The Florida senator walked away with most of the accolades and on Friday earned the backing of Paul Singer, an influential Republican mega-donor who was also being courted by Rubio’s key rival, Jeb Bush. | The fundraising boost, largely in the way of small donations, follows a debate that has been dubbed a breakthrough moment for Rubio and his campaign. The Florida senator walked away with most of the accolades and on Friday earned the backing of Paul Singer, an influential Republican mega-donor who was also being courted by Rubio’s key rival, Jeb Bush. |
| Rubio’s campaign had previously pointed to a haul of $750,000 in online donations by Thursday, less than 24 hours after the debate was held. The numbers are especially significant for Rubio, who raised just $5.7m in the third quarter and will need substantial resources to remain competitive in a crowded Republican field. | Rubio’s campaign had previously pointed to a haul of $750,000 in online donations by Thursday, less than 24 hours after the debate was held. The numbers are especially significant for Rubio, who raised just $5.7m in the third quarter and will need substantial resources to remain competitive in a crowded Republican field. |
| The 44-year-old senator’s fortunes appear to be rapidly changing since the most recent debate, when he was challenged onstage by Bush, the former governor of Florida and a one-time Rubio ally. The night was meant to be a critical test for Bush and his struggling campaign, but his underwhelming performance did little to quell concerns among donors. | The 44-year-old senator’s fortunes appear to be rapidly changing since the most recent debate, when he was challenged onstage by Bush, the former governor of Florida and a one-time Rubio ally. The night was meant to be a critical test for Bush and his struggling campaign, but his underwhelming performance did little to quell concerns among donors. |
| The resulting fallout would be especially beneficial to Rubio, who has been competing for the Republican presidential nomination in the same lane. Bush, the son and brother of US presidents, came into the race with a record-setting war chest of nearly $100m. | The resulting fallout would be especially beneficial to Rubio, who has been competing for the Republican presidential nomination in the same lane. Bush, the son and brother of US presidents, came into the race with a record-setting war chest of nearly $100m. |
| But he also had a disappointing third quarter in terms of money raised and now risks defections among his financial backers to the increasingly viable Rubio, who will embark on several fundraising trips in the coming week as he seeks to capitalize on the momentum coming out of the debate. | But he also had a disappointing third quarter in terms of money raised and now risks defections among his financial backers to the increasingly viable Rubio, who will embark on several fundraising trips in the coming week as he seeks to capitalize on the momentum coming out of the debate. |
| The piqued national interest nonetheless brings with it greater scrunity, bringing to an end the Rubio campaign’s strategy of keeping a low profile. Bush’s team has continued to go after Rubio’s low Senate attendance and in a leaked memo revealed plans to attack his financial past and ties to billionaires. | The piqued national interest nonetheless brings with it greater scrunity, bringing to an end the Rubio campaign’s strategy of keeping a low profile. Bush’s team has continued to go after Rubio’s low Senate attendance and in a leaked memo revealed plans to attack his financial past and ties to billionaires. |
| Rubio dismissed the criticisms on Friday, repeating his line from the debate that Bush had been convinced “that the way forward is to attack me”. | Rubio dismissed the criticisms on Friday, repeating his line from the debate that Bush had been convinced “that the way forward is to attack me”. |
| “And that’s fine. Everybody makes their own decisions,” Rubio said. “I just don’t think it’s a smart thing for Republicans to do Hillary Clinton’s job for her.” | |
| The impact of his strong debate showing was palpable on Friday night in Orange City, Iowa, when he addressed an audience of socially conservative evangelical voters, and on Saturday in Des Moines, where Rubio participated in a Republican cattle call at the state fairgrounds. | The impact of his strong debate showing was palpable on Friday night in Orange City, Iowa, when he addressed an audience of socially conservative evangelical voters, and on Saturday in Des Moines, where Rubio participated in a Republican cattle call at the state fairgrounds. |
| In Des Moines he was received like a rock star, after delivering a speech laced with his usual generational contrasts to both Bush and Clinton. As Rubio walked back to his campaign’s booth at the event, he was surrounded by swell of reporters, fans and even professional autograph collectors, who saw an opportunity for profit. | |
| Related: Paul Singer backs Marco Rubio in boost for senator and blow for Bush | |
| For nearly 30 minutes, Rubio was flanked by people desperately seeking selfies and signatures. He studiously ignored a pack of reporters that his staffers worked diligently to keep at bay. | For nearly 30 minutes, Rubio was flanked by people desperately seeking selfies and signatures. He studiously ignored a pack of reporters that his staffers worked diligently to keep at bay. |
| Although Rubio’s poll numbers and lean operation in Iowa do not have him registering just yet as a frontrunner, on Saturday, at least, he was received like one. | Although Rubio’s poll numbers and lean operation in Iowa do not have him registering just yet as a frontrunner, on Saturday, at least, he was received like one. |
| He might soon find his main competitor, meanwhile, to be Ted Cruz, another first-term senator who has a formidable following among grassroots conservatives. Cruz, of Texas, had his own big debate moment when he declared “war on the liberal media”. He raised $1.1m in the next 24 hours, his campaign said. |