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| Rubio passes critical debate test, but abortion answer hands Democrats gift | 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 on the pathway toward his party’s nomination. | 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 on 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. | 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. |
| But Democrats believe the Florida senator handed them a gift when he strongly asserted that he had never advocated for exceptions to abortions in cases of rapes and incest. | |
| The moment came when moderator Megyn Kelly questioned Rubio’s prior support for including rape and incest protections in anti-abortion laws, 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. | The moment came when moderator Megyn Kelly questioned Rubio’s prior support for including rape and incest protections in anti-abortion laws, 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. |
| “I have never advocated that,” Rubio responded, 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 advocated that,” Rubio responded, adding that “future generations will call us barbarians for murdering millions of babies when we never gave them a chance to live.” |
| Rubio has, in fact, supported legislation including rape or incest exceptions, and he has also backed measures without them. He has also said in the past that he would sign a bill with exceptions as president if that’s the only option. | Rubio has, in fact, supported legislation including rape or incest exceptions, and he has also backed measures without them. He has also said in the past that he would sign a bill with exceptions as president if that’s the only option. |
| Rubio’s campaign sought to clarify after the debate that the senator has indeed signed on to legislation with exceptions but not actively advocated for them. | Rubio’s campaign sought to clarify after the debate that the senator has indeed signed on to legislation with exceptions but not actively advocated for them. |
| Rubio’s 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. | Rubio’s 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. |
| Rubio was nonetheless defiant when given an opportunity to clarify his stance on Friday, choosing to double down on his position against rape or incest exceptions while arguing that life begins at conception. | Rubio was nonetheless defiant when given an opportunity to clarify his stance on Friday, choosing to double down on his position against rape or incest exceptions while arguing that life begins at conception. |
| The senator acknowledged that he had backed a bill including exceptions, but added that “every single pro-life senator, every single pro-life group – including the Catholic pro-life groups – supported the bill”. | |
| Rubio said he was willing to sign on to bills both with and without exceptions, because his broader goal was to prevent abortions so there were no prerequisites required, in his view, for his support. | Rubio said he was willing to sign on to bills both with and without exceptions, because his broader goal was to prevent abortions so there were no prerequisites required, in his view, for his support. |
| “I am here to try to save as many of those unborn children’s lives as possible,” Rubio said. | “I am here to try to save as many of those unborn children’s lives as possible,” Rubio said. |
| Pressed further on why he was comfortable removing protections for women who had conceived through rape or incest, Rubio said such instances were “horrifying,” but “extremely rare”. | Pressed further on why he was comfortable removing protections for women who had conceived through rape or incest, Rubio said such instances were “horrifying,” but “extremely rare”. |
| “I personally and honestly and deeply believe that all human life is worthy of protection irrespective of the circumstances in which that human life was created,” Rubio said. “I personally believe that you do not correct one tragedy with a second tragedy – that’s how I personally feel, very strongly about.” | |
| “If I have to weigh the two equities here, I’m always going to err on the side of life,” he added. “I think that’s a timeless principle.” | “If I have to weigh the two equities here, I’m always going to err on the side of life,” he added. “I think that’s a timeless principle.” |
| While the American electorate is broadly split between being pro-choice and pro-life, polling has shown that exceptions for rape, incest or to save a mother’s life is supported by at least three-quarters of the American public. | While the American electorate is broadly split between being pro-choice and pro-life, polling has shown that exceptions for rape, incest or to save a mother’s life is supported by at least three-quarters of the American public. |
| A spokesperson for Clinton’s campaign quickly pounced on Rubio’s comments, tweeting that the senator was “Losing the general to win the primary” – reflecting the confidence among Democrats that they are on the winning side of the debate over reproductive rights. | |
| The Democratic National Committee also hit Rubio hard following his appearance on CNN. | |
| “Hey Marco Rubio, the women of the 21st century can hear you,” Christina Freundlich, a spokeswoman for the group, said in a statement. “When you don’t account for rape or incest, the only thing we see is a candidate with outdated, out of step, and offensive policies of the past. Get with the times or go home.” | |
| The debate 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. | The debate 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. |
| Outside of the abortion issue, 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. | Outside of the abortion issue, 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. |
| 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 |
| “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. |