Facing do-or-die primaries next week, a desperate Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz roared into Thursday night’s Republican presidential debate as an unofficial tag team to slam Donald Trump on issues ranging from immigration to how he accumulated his wealth.
Rubio came out swinging in his most aggressive performance of any of the 10 GOP debates.
He called out Trump on his thinly detailed health care proposal, for hiring illegal immigrants while vowing to deport them en masse, and even for inheriting his wealth — essentially portraying him as a loudmouth and empty suit without a plan.
“You’re the only person on this stage that’s ever been fined for hiring people to work on your projects illegally,” Rubio said soon after the CNN showdown began in Houston.
It prompted a sharp rebuke from Trump.
“No, no, I’m the only one at this stage that’s hired people. You haven’t hired anybody!” the real estate mogul snapped. “You haven’t hired one person.”
“He hired workers from Poland and he had to pay a $1 million or so in judgment,” Rubio responded.
“Thirty-eight years ago,” Trump replied, prompting Rubio to crack, “I guess there’s a statute of limitations on lies.”
And Rubio mocked Trump’s boasts of his business acumen and ability to cut deals with foreign powers.
“If he hadn’t inherited $200 million, you know where Donald Trump would be right now? Selling watches in Manhattan,” Rubio cracked.
When talk turned to Trump’s plan to build a border wall with Mexico, Rubio cut in: “If he built the wall the way he built Trump Tower, he’ll be using illegal immigrants to do it.”
Cruz didn’t need a cue to pile on.
“In 2013, when I was fighting against the [illegal immigrant] amnesty bill, where was Donald? He was firing Dennis Rodman on ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ ” Cruz said, mocking the billionaire’s reality show.
And he attacked the school the New York mogul started, the for-profit Trump University, which was sued by the state of New York and others for not delivering on its promises.
“There are people that borrow $36,000 to go to Trump University, and they’re suing him now,” Rubio said. “And you know what they got? They got to take a picture with a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump.”
Trump didn’t have much of a rejoinder.
“I’ve won most of the lawsuits,” he said.
Trump absorbed blows but also landed a few.
“This guy’s a choke artist,” he said, turning to Rubio on his right during one heated exchange.
“And this guy’s a liar,” Trump continued, turning to Cruz on his left.
With Trump’s large lead in the polls, it was unlikely that the debate — the last before the Super Tuesday primaries in a dozen states — would alter the race, in which Rubio is running second and Cruz third.
One of their sharpest exchanges came after Trump said several times that he would have “many different plans” to replace ObamaCare.
Rubio accused him of repeating himself without offering specifics.
“I watched him repeat himself five times four weeks ago,” Trump said, referring to an exchange Rubio had with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at a previous debate.
“I saw you repeat yourself five times four seconds ago!” Rubio shot back.
“I said let’s talk about your plan. He says five things: Everyone’s dumb. He’s going to make America great again. Win, win, win. He’s winning in the polls.
“Every night. Same thing,” the Florida senator said.
Moderators then asked that Rubio allow Trump to explain his plan.
“We’re going to have many different plans,” Trump said as a gleeful Rubio interrupted to shout, “He’s done it again!”
As for Cruz, Trump touted his own ability to get along with Democrats and added, “You get along with nobody. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Cruz came back with a broadside.
“How do we nominate a candidate who has said Hillary Clinton was the best secretary of state of modern times, agreed with her on foreign policy, agreed with Bernie Sanders?” Cruz said.
“Hold on, first of all, talking about the polls, I’m beating him awfully badly in the polls,” Trump replied, referring to Cruz.
“But you’re not beating Hillary,” Cruz said.
“Hey, if I can’t beat her, you’re really going to get killed, aren’t you?” Trump replied.
The GOP front-runner offered a new excuse for why he has not released his tax returns.
“I will absolutely give my return. But I’m being audited now for two or three years, so I can’t do it until the audit is finished, obviously. I think people would understand that,” he said.