While making the morning TV news rounds Friday, Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio attempted to capitalize on whatever momentum he may have generated during Thursday’s debate by repeatedly deploying a vicious attack against Donald Trump’s character.
“A con artist is about to take over the conservative movement and the Republican Party, and we have to put a stop to it,” Rubio said on CBS’ This Morning. “He is wholly unprepared to be president of the United States.”
Rubio used the “con artist” line again on NBC’s Today.
“I mean, this is unreal. Again, this guy is a con artist,” Rubio said. “He’s always making things up. No one holds him accountable for it.”
And again on ABC’s Good Morning America: “I think it’s important for people to understand they have a choice to make. Look, if this pattern continues, the conservative movement in the Republican Party will be taken over by a con artist portraying himself as the fighter of the ordinary person fighting for the working man — but he’s spent years sticking it to the working people.”
Rubio used the line again Friday while campaigning in Texas, and again later on Twitter:
"Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.." – @marcorubio on Trump in Dallas
— Brooke Sammon (@BrookeSammon) February 26, 2016
Friends don't let friends vote for con artists. https://t.co/M4DcgEEF7r
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 26, 2016
A “con artist” is defined as a person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that isn’t true. That’s certainly not the type of thing you’d associate with a quality human being, let alone a man vying for arguably the most important job in the world.
But with this new line of attack, Rubio could potentially be putting himself in an awkward spot, because at the first GOP presidential debate in August, he, along with all the other candidates not named Donald, pledged to “support” whoever ends up being the nominee.
Now, in order to keep his promise to his party, it appears quite likely Rubio will have to back a candidate he has publicly accused of being a con man.
Trump’s popularity is starting to win him some fans among mainstream Republicans, however. For instance, this week, GOP Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Chris Collins of New York became the first two members of Congress to endorse Trump. Meanwhile, Politico reports that Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus is telling people he thinks the RNC will be able to work more closely with Trump during a general election campaign because his organization has access to the tools he’ll need to win, such as voter data and media operations.
Trump’s response to Rubio’s attacks suggest he doesn’t much care about getting the Florida Senator’s support:
Why would the people of Florida vote for Marco Rubio when he defrauded them by agreeing to represent them as their Senator and then quit!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2016
Lightweight choker Marco Rubio looks like a little boy on stage. Not presidential material!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2016
Lightweight Marco Rubio was working hard last night. The problem is, he is a choker, and once a choker, always a choker! Mr. Meltdown.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2016