Marco "Clearly Had The Best Debate"
Krauthammer: "Overall, I think he came in number one, Rubio."
Stephen Hayes: 'He clearly had the best debate on the stage tonight.'
I think he was clear and clean the best debater on the stage tonight. ... I think he clearly had the best debate on the stage tonight and I think it was one of better performances and I was down in Florida with him when I saw him do the other debates in 2010. Yes, if you want to be specific about it he gave a great answer on national security, to start. Within the space of a minute, talked about Asia, talked about the Middle East, talked about the need to rebuild our defenses. He took a tough question from Kim Strassel on tax policy, whether his plan favors child tax credits in a way that liberals might like. And he said "look, this is their money", which I thought was a very good answer. ... I thought that was a good night. I thought his closing statement was good.
Kirsten Powers On Marco’s Strong Night: “But Rubio really had the money lines. He was saying ‘thank God, I thank God that George Bush was President on 9/11 and not Al Gore and he was very, very strong.”
Gabe Gutierrez 'Strong Performance': “A feisty performance for Marco Rubio. He needed a strong performance and it looks like he may have done that today.”
What They Are Saying...
Chris Cillizza: Was A Winner For His “Thoughtful, Nuanced And Convincing” Answers: “His answers on potentially problematic questions about the child tax credit and poverty were thoughtful, nuanced and convincing. He managed to emerge as the best defender of George W. Bush's national security record in a fight against Donald Trump despite the fact that Jeb Bush was also on the stage. Rubio also effectively faced down Ted Cruz on immigration, painting Cruz as a flip-flopper and someone willing to say anything to get elected. Does Rubio still talk a little too fast and sound a little too rehearsed? Yes. But, he clearly helped himself in advance of next Saturday's South Carolina Republican primary.”
The Washington Examiner: Narrative Following The Debate Will Be Marco Redeeming Himself. “Rubio was able to speak specifically and intelligently on a range of issues from foreign to domestic policy. His opening answer about the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and the need to nominate a new justice who is a strict constitutionalist, reminded everyone why he was once seen as the eventual nominee even when he wasn't leading in the polls...The narrative coming out of this debate will be about Rubio redeeming himself.”
The Washington Post Calls Marco a Debate Winner: "Rubio also had a strong comeback debate. He ably defended his child tax credit, making the night’s only pitch to shore up families. … His shining moment however came when he reeled off the list of Cruz’s “lies” — reversing himself on immigration, telling Iowa voters Carson had dropped out of the race, and insisting Rubio didn’t fight against Planned Parenthood funding. In essence it was his Chis Christie moment, leaving Cruz back on his heels. ... He was at ease in explaining his immigration plans, stressing his emphasis on border security first.”
Dallas Morning News: Was Fluent On All The Key Issues. “Was he the Comeback Kid? Rubio, who stumbled badly in a New Hampshire debate a week earlier, got back on his game. He was fluent on Scalia, national security, defending George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq. “He kept us safe,” Rubio said. The Florida senator also gave as good as he got from Cruz, as they went into Round 15 on immigration. There were no “wow” moments, and Rubio’s success in the first seven debates is now a bit of curse: We now expect homers each time he’s at-bat.”
