Marco Rubio says he is unwilling to participate in what he says is a “freak show” orchestrated by Republican firebrand Donald Trump.
The Florida senator, who holds the No. 3 spot in the latest Washington Examiner presidential power rankings, has enjoyed rising poll numbers and an influx of support since his foreign policy credentials shone during the second GOP debate.
But with his rise has come the wrath of Trump. The outspoken billionaire has launched a slew of attacks against Rubio in the past week, calling him a “kid” and a “lightweight” and criticizing his voting record in the Senate. During a press conference Monday, Trump added that the junior senator from Florida is “desperate for money.”
Rubio has since defended himself to some extent, but said during an interview with National Public Radio Monday that he will avoid the prolonged bickering in which other Republican candidates have indulged.
“I’m not interested in the back and forth to be a member or part of his freak show,” Rubio told NPR.
The Florida Republican steered clear of name-calling, but later accused Trump of being a sore loser and pointed out that he was booed by crowd members at last week’s Values Voter Summit upon calling Rubio a “clown.”
“He is a very sensitive person,” Rubio said. “He responds to criticism very poorly … His poll numbers have taken a beating, and he was embarrassed on national television at the debate by Carly Fiorina and others.”
Indeed, Trump’s lackluster debate performance paled in comparison to the consistently sharp and thorough answers provided by Fiorina. And his poll numbers have dropped from several points from where they stood pre-debate.
Rubio wouldn’t say whether he views the minor downturn in Trump’s poll numbers as the beginning of the end for the real estate mogul.
“This election is not going to be about Donald Trump: He thinks it is, but it’s not,” Rubio said. “Every time issues become prominent, he will say something outrageous or do something outrageous so that he doesn’t have to talk about the issues.”
