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Trump's rivals pull their punches
Politico ^ | 3/10/16 | By ELI STOKOLS and SHANE GOLDMACHER

Posted on 03/10/2016 8:39:33 PM PST by Albion Wilde

The collective reluctance to engage crystalized the state of the GOP nomination fight with five days left until winner-take-all primaries in Ohio and Florida that are must-win contests for native sons John Kasich and Rubio, respectively. They're fighting to survive, as is Cruz. But they're also looking to preserve their own dignity.

As the nomination fight approaches what could be a climactic moment where Trump becomes the GOP’s presumptive nominee, his rivals are ditching the personal insults that only Trump seems capable of executing. No one, in fact, is eager to attack him at all—even on these issues of real resonance in the states casting votes next Tuesday — after so many attempts to do so have backfired so spectacularly.

“I cannot believe how civil it’s been up here,” Trump said 30 minutes into the debate.

Most recently, Rubio saw his support collapse quickly after derisively mocking Trump in the last two debates and on the stump.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida; US: New York; US: Ohio; US: South Carolina; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2016election; agitprop; debate; election2016; elistokols; florida; johnkasich; lindseygraham; marcorubio; newyork; ohio; politico; shanegoldmacher; southcarolina; standdown; tedcruz; texas; trump
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The rest of the article sums up many of the main points of tonight's debate.
1 posted on 03/10/2016 8:39:33 PM PST by Albion Wilde
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To: Albion Wilde
They will attack Trump like a mad dog between now and Tuesday.
2 posted on 03/10/2016 8:41:16 PM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: Albion Wilde

Did anyone mention Trump’s campaign manager assaulting a female reporter? I expected calls for Trump to fire that thug.


3 posted on 03/10/2016 8:42:18 PM PST by UnwashedPeasant (A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him.)
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To: Albion Wilde

Rubio apologized, even used his kids, when he saw his attacks didn’t work. Trying to bring his numbers up.

I predicted he’ll drop out before next Tuesday and endorse Cruz. I’m starting to think he may endorse Trump. LOL


4 posted on 03/10/2016 8:44:42 PM PST by VerySadAmerican (Cruz voters: Wake up! Trump is our only chance of stopping the gopE. If not now, never!)
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To: UnwashedPeasant

Sorry, everybody was enjoying watching Trump wipe the floor with Cruz at the debate. Total knock out. CNN pundits don’t have a word to say about Cruz.


5 posted on 03/10/2016 8:45:46 PM PST by lodi90 (Clear choice for Conservatives now: TRUMP or lose)
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To: Albion Wilde

Trump was remarkably restrained tonight also.

He exercised a lot of self control at one point.


6 posted on 03/10/2016 8:45:51 PM PST by Outlaw76 (Conservative, Showman, Rino. Make your choice wisely.)
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To: Albion Wilde

Cruz took a swing at the bag, missed, and knocked himself out. So much for the Great Canadian Hope.


7 posted on 03/10/2016 8:46:05 PM PST by TTFlyer
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To: Albion Wilde

They lost to trump to tonight. One CNN taking head said it was like they were afraid of him

They were


8 posted on 03/10/2016 8:47:06 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Prayer for Victory is the ONLY way to support the troops!)
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To: Albion Wilde

...the little playground nasty boy has to behave


9 posted on 03/10/2016 8:47:12 PM PST by Doogle (( USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Outlaw76

Trump was remarkably restrained tonight also.

He exercised a lot of self control at one point.

Yep. It really was pathetic how Cruz turned almost every question into an attack on Trump. Trump just ignored him. That must drive Cruz crazy.


10 posted on 03/10/2016 8:47:41 PM PST by lodi90 (Clear choice for Conservatives now: TRUMP or lose)
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To: lodi90

..Trump was remarkably restrained tonight...

Presidential...He knows he has this in the bag. But, that doesn’t mean he’s not a scrapper anymore. He didn’t bite at Ted’s and little Marco’s bait.


11 posted on 03/10/2016 8:51:28 PM PST by Sasparilla (Hillary for Prosecution 2016)
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To: VerySadAmerican

In exchange to ambassador to Cuba? You bet your ass Rubio would love to negotiate with the Castro’s, and that is one thing Trump is good at. Finding the right person for the job.


12 posted on 03/10/2016 8:51:42 PM PST by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget (God punishes Conservatives by making them argue with fools. Go Trump!)
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To: lodi90

You and I watched the debate differently. I suppose it’s a matter of preference.

I felt like Ted exposed Donald’s lack of knowledge on multiple occasions.

Trump’s best moments where talking about his endorsements. His inability to speak with specificity hasn’t hurt him yet and I don’t think it will hurt him tonight. He only had a couple of word salad sentences, so that was a plus.


13 posted on 03/10/2016 8:52:16 PM PST by Outlaw76 (Conservative, Showman, Rino. Make your choice wisely.)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

I am not a Rubio supporter...

The only way Rubio or Cruz would want to ‘negotiate’ with Castro is with the Castro boys at the business end of a gun. American’s of Cuban decent have a particular hatred Castro.


14 posted on 03/10/2016 8:54:56 PM PST by Outlaw76 (Conservative, Showman, Rino. Make your choice wisely.)
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To: Sasparilla

Oh but he was straining really hard. He went full burnt orange at one point. I was happy for him.


15 posted on 03/10/2016 8:56:00 PM PST by Outlaw76 (Conservative, Showman, Rino. Make your choice wisely.)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

“In exchange to ambassador to Cuba?’

That is an interesting thought. It would take him off the talking head circuit of TV news programs and remove him the public eye. Thus removing a RINO from future elections


16 posted on 03/10/2016 8:56:03 PM PST by Fai Mao (Just a tropical gardener chatting with friends)
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To: lodi90

I missed the debate, but Mike Gallagher and Guy Benson on Salem Radio were saying Cruz and Rubio turned in strong performances, but there were no blunders by Trump


17 posted on 03/10/2016 8:56:26 PM PST by WilliamIII
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To: UnwashedPeasant

Tell us exactly how he assaulted her?


18 posted on 03/10/2016 8:57:12 PM PST by wardaddy
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To: TornadoAlley3
They will attack Trump like a mad dog between now and Tuesday.

Yes, Cruz the "anointed King" is already out there trying to shame Trump about the oath he had fun with at his rally, saying that is like an "oath to a king, like Obama thinks". This guy is pure politics in every synapse. The problem is, he thinks this stuff is clever, the "win the day" stuff. He needs a message shaper.

19 posted on 03/10/2016 8:58:10 PM PST by Religion and Politics
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To: Outlaw76

I would love to buy you a copy of “The Art Of The Deal”. He was in the handshake phase. It will not be ugly very often from here on out unless they balk. It is a done deal. The Dims rely on that silly Alinsky guide. AOTD beats that crap hard core.

POTUS TRUMP.


20 posted on 03/10/2016 8:59:23 PM PST by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget (God punishes Conservatives by making them argue with fools. Go Trump!)
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