Phil Ammann
Donald Trump is aiming his massive ego at a new target: Marco Rubio.
Trump calls the junior senator from Florida “a clown” who was “sweaty … overly ambitious,” as well as financially unsuccessful and “absent” from the U.S. Senate.
Nevertheless, Bill Day’s latest shows Rubio might just prove more of a challenge to the real-estate tycoon who (so far) is still the GOP front-runner.
Rather than regularly rebuking Trump, or pretending he does not matter, Rubio bided his time – waiting for the right opportunity. When that time came, his attacks were strategic.
The “10-second sound bite” campaign is beginning to wear thin, Rubio said. “I think he’s kind of been exposed a little bit over the last seven days.”
Trump’s “a very touchy and insecure guy,” Rubio said last week on a Kentucky sports radio show.
And it seems his tactic is beginning to work.
After the recent GOP debate, Rubio – who brought his own bottle of water this time – is among leaders in the field, according to national polling of Republicans. He has now moved up to third, behind Trump and Ben Carson, and tied with Carly Fiorina.
After a relatively soft debate performance, Trump is beginning to demonstrate weakness. He is still in the lead, but shows some signs of slippage. And the mainstream political media is poised to finally bury his campaign.
However, a good slap fight is where Trump really shines: look no further than Lindsey Graham, Scott Walker, Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, and Jeb Bush – the ones who indirectly helped Trump get to the front of the pack.
Now, it’s Rubio’s turn.
Except the difference this time is that Trump – drunk on his own self-image – may not be as invincible as once seemed.
Aqua Man just might have a chance against Macho Man.
