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| Rubio passes critical debate test, but abortion answer hands Democrats gift | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Marco Rubio walked into the first Republican presidential debate on Thursday night as a decided underdog. But the youthful Florida senator emerged – almost by way of non-engagement on a stage of bombastic personalities – making significant gains in the pathway toward his party’s nomination. | |
| If Rubio can survive the Donald Trump war of attrition, political watchers agreed, he is primed for the long battle ahead. Not long into the debate, conservatives quickly began fantasizing over a hypothetical matchup between the 44-year-old senator and Hillary Clinton. | |
| It was a critical test for Rubio, who in recent weeks took a dramatic dip in the polls despite launching his run for the White House in April with soaring expectations. A slew of press reports even questioned if Rubio’s “Obama-esque” appeal was sustainable, predicting an early demise for the candidate who has long been regarded as a rising star within the Republican party. | It was a critical test for Rubio, who in recent weeks took a dramatic dip in the polls despite launching his run for the White House in April with soaring expectations. A slew of press reports even questioned if Rubio’s “Obama-esque” appeal was sustainable, predicting an early demise for the candidate who has long been regarded as a rising star within the Republican party. |
| But the senator seized on most of his allotted time in Cleveland – just the seventh most out of 10 candidates on stage – by articulating his prescriptions for economic, immigration and education policy, while presenting himself with a general-election aura that was capable of confronting the formidable Clinton operation. | But the senator seized on most of his allotted time in Cleveland – just the seventh most out of 10 candidates on stage – by articulating his prescriptions for economic, immigration and education policy, while presenting himself with a general-election aura that was capable of confronting the formidable Clinton operation. |
| Rubio is better at delivering his story than any other GOPer and better at selling Republican policies than any other GOPer. | Rubio is better at delivering his story than any other GOPer and better at selling Republican policies than any other GOPer. |
| Ohio governor John Kasich, well received on his home turf, was arguably the only other fluid candidate of the Republican lot who made the most of a chance to elevate his national profile. | Ohio governor John Kasich, well received on his home turf, was arguably the only other fluid candidate of the Republican lot who made the most of a chance to elevate his national profile. |
| Related: Donald Trump dominates debate but refuses to rule out independent run | Related: Donald Trump dominates debate but refuses to rule out independent run |
| Cutting through the noise was no easy task with Trump, the real-estate mogul and early frontrunner, taking his controversial presence from the stump to the stage – pressing hard on contentious issues such as immigration reform while refusing from the outset of the debate to rule out a potentially destructive run as an independent candidate. | Cutting through the noise was no easy task with Trump, the real-estate mogul and early frontrunner, taking his controversial presence from the stump to the stage – pressing hard on contentious issues such as immigration reform while refusing from the outset of the debate to rule out a potentially destructive run as an independent candidate. |
| While some opponents sparred unabashedly with Trump – Kentucky senator Rand Paul, whose campaign has been floundering, took on the self-proclaimed billionaire early and often – Rubio’s approach appeared to be one of near-avoidance. | While some opponents sparred unabashedly with Trump – Kentucky senator Rand Paul, whose campaign has been floundering, took on the self-proclaimed billionaire early and often – Rubio’s approach appeared to be one of near-avoidance. |
| When presented with a direct opportunity to respond to Trump on immigration, shortly after the former reality-TV star talked up the need to build “a big, beautiful door”, Rubio declined to address his opponent directly and stuck instead to his own proposals for the Mexican border. | When presented with a direct opportunity to respond to Trump on immigration, shortly after the former reality-TV star talked up the need to build “a big, beautiful door”, Rubio declined to address his opponent directly and stuck instead to his own proposals for the Mexican border. |
| “I also think we need a fence, but if El Chapo can build a tunnel under that fence, we need to deal with that,” Rubio said, referencing the escaped cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. “Let me tell you who never get talked about in these debates: the people who call my office, waiting 15 years to come to the United States. They’ve paid their fees, hired a lawyer and they’re wondering if they should come in illegally.” | “I also think we need a fence, but if El Chapo can build a tunnel under that fence, we need to deal with that,” Rubio said, referencing the escaped cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. “Let me tell you who never get talked about in these debates: the people who call my office, waiting 15 years to come to the United States. They’ve paid their fees, hired a lawyer and they’re wondering if they should come in illegally.” |
| The only time on Thursday when the first-term senator addressed Trump directly was to refute the mogul’s claim that he had donated to most of the Republicans sharing the stage. “Not me, not me! Actually to be clear, he supported Charlie Crist,” Rubio quipped, referring to the establishment-backed primary opponent he defeated in his long-shot bid for the Florida senate seat he now holds. | The only time on Thursday when the first-term senator addressed Trump directly was to refute the mogul’s claim that he had donated to most of the Republicans sharing the stage. “Not me, not me! Actually to be clear, he supported Charlie Crist,” Rubio quipped, referring to the establishment-backed primary opponent he defeated in his long-shot bid for the Florida senate seat he now holds. |
| “I think he was the winner of the second debate,” said Liz Mair, a Republican operative who has advised four of the Republican candidates, including Paul and Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, but not Rubio. “Throughout, he came off as very polished, policy savvy, smart, positive, and perhaps above all, he looked the part – and I wasn’t expecting that. | “I think he was the winner of the second debate,” said Liz Mair, a Republican operative who has advised four of the Republican candidates, including Paul and Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, but not Rubio. “Throughout, he came off as very polished, policy savvy, smart, positive, and perhaps above all, he looked the part – and I wasn’t expecting that. |
| “There was a risk he could have come off as the little kid trying to play with bigger kids, and not keeping up. But he did a very good job. Based solely on tonight’s performance, I could imagine him taking on Clinton in a debate and winning.” | “There was a risk he could have come off as the little kid trying to play with bigger kids, and not keeping up. But he did a very good job. Based solely on tonight’s performance, I could imagine him taking on Clinton in a debate and winning.” |
| Rubio previewed at least some of what a debate with the former secretary of state might look like, if he makes his way through the gauntlet of nearly a dozen Republican debates and the primary season of 2016. | Rubio previewed at least some of what a debate with the former secretary of state might look like, if he makes his way through the gauntlet of nearly a dozen Republican debates and the primary season of 2016. |
| “If I’m our nominee, how is Hillary Clinton going to lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck? I was raised paycheck to paycheck,” said Rubio, invoking his personal biography as the son of a bartender and a maid. | “If I’m our nominee, how is Hillary Clinton going to lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck? I was raised paycheck to paycheck,” said Rubio, invoking his personal biography as the son of a bartender and a maid. |
| “How is she going to lecture me about student loans? I owed over $100,000 just four years ago,” he said. | “How is she going to lecture me about student loans? I owed over $100,000 just four years ago,” he said. |
| But Democrats felt Rubio also handed them a gift for the general election while discussing his views on abortion. | But Democrats felt Rubio also handed them a gift for the general election while discussing his views on abortion. |
| Related: Trump responds to Megyn Kelly's questions on misogyny – with more misogyny | Related: Trump responds to Megyn Kelly's questions on misogyny – with more misogyny |
| When asked by moderator Megyn Kelly over his support for rape and incest exceptions for abortion, as part of a string of questions on women’s rights that forced several candidates to play into an issue Democrats see as a stronghold, Rubio disputed her claim. | When asked by moderator Megyn Kelly over his support for rape and incest exceptions for abortion, as part of a string of questions on women’s rights that forced several candidates to play into an issue Democrats see as a stronghold, Rubio disputed her claim. |
| “I have never said that and I have never advocated that,” Rubio said, adding that “future generations will call us barbarians for murdering millions of babies when we never gave them a chance to live.” | “I have never said that and I have never advocated that,” Rubio said, adding that “future generations will call us barbarians for murdering millions of babies when we never gave them a chance to live.” |
| While the American electorate is broadly split between being pro-choice and pro-life, exceptions for rape, incest or to save a mother’s life is supported by a strong majority. | While the American electorate is broadly split between being pro-choice and pro-life, exceptions for rape, incest or to save a mother’s life is supported by a strong majority. |
| Rubio has, in fact, supported legislation including such protections, and he has also backed measures without exceptions. He has also said in the past that he would sign a bill with exceptions as president if that’s the only option. A spokesman for Rubio confirmed that the senator has signed onto legislation with exceptions but not proactively advocated for them. | Rubio has, in fact, supported legislation including such protections, and he has also backed measures without exceptions. He has also said in the past that he would sign a bill with exceptions as president if that’s the only option. A spokesman for Rubio confirmed that the senator has signed onto legislation with exceptions but not proactively advocated for them. |
| Rubio’s response forceful rebuke of exceptions could nonetheless have lingering consequences if he is the nominee. Democrats are eager to engage with Republicans on women’s reproductive rights, an issue that has frequently dogged the GOP in recent elections. | |
| Jeb Bush, one of Rubio’s key rivals and former mentor, also staunchly defended his pro-life days after landing in hot water for questioning the need to spend $500m on women’s health – a comment he later clarified was directed at Planned Parenthood. | Jeb Bush, one of Rubio’s key rivals and former mentor, also staunchly defended his pro-life days after landing in hot water for questioning the need to spend $500m on women’s health – a comment he later clarified was directed at Planned Parenthood. |
| Bush, the leading establishment Republican who has been second to Trump in most national polls, avoided any major stumbles but did not do much to distinguish himself from the rest of the field. One of the former Florida governor’s standout moments arrived when he deftly defended his support for Common Core school standards, an education policy that is loathed by conservatives, instead of being put on the defensive. | Bush, the leading establishment Republican who has been second to Trump in most national polls, avoided any major stumbles but did not do much to distinguish himself from the rest of the field. One of the former Florida governor’s standout moments arrived when he deftly defended his support for Common Core school standards, an education policy that is loathed by conservatives, instead of being put on the defensive. |
| But there, too, Rubio was ready with a response that shows how most Republican primary voters perceive the issue. | But there, too, Rubio was ready with a response that shows how most Republican primary voters perceive the issue. |
| The federal government “will turn it into a mandate”, he said. “In fact, what they will begin to say to local communities is, ‘You will not get federal money unless we do things the way they want you to do it.’ And they will use common core or any other requirement that exists nationally to force it down the throats of our people and our states.” | The federal government “will turn it into a mandate”, he said. “In fact, what they will begin to say to local communities is, ‘You will not get federal money unless we do things the way they want you to do it.’ And they will use common core or any other requirement that exists nationally to force it down the throats of our people and our states.” |