Rubio prepares make-or-break debate attack on Donald Trump

Appearing on a town hall with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly, Rubio said that while he’s an underdog in the the contest, he’s been one going back his “entire life.” The Florida senator’s declaration comes less than a week before Super Tuesday, where he looks to win a state after being shut out in the first four contests, with him winning second place in the last two contests in South Carolina and Nevada.

“First of all, I’ll admit he’s the front-runner,” Rubio said. “I’m certainly an underdog, but I’ve been an underdog my entire life. I mean from where I grew up and how I grew up, to how I came to the Senate, running against a Republican establishment to this race, when I’ve been hit by over $40 million of negative ads by establishment money, but I relish that. This is a country of underdogs.”

“This is an important election,” Rubio continued, “and we certainly need to elect someone who’s prepared to be president in a thoughtful, serious and important way given the threats this country faces.”

During a rally earlier in the day, Rubio changed his tune by directing attacks at Trump himself over recent comments over Obamacare, foreign policy and Israel in perhaps a preview of Thursday’s debate.

Rubio also told the Fox News host that he plans to release his taxes at some point in the next few days after 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney called on him, Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz to release them. Romney pointedly said there is “good reason” to think there’s a possible “bombshell” in Trump’s taxes.

For his part, Rubio said what’s in his taxes isn’t anything “exotic.”

“We were planning to [release them] today, tomorrow or in the next few days,” Rubio said, adding that many of them are already out there after his 2010 run for Senate and his Senate financial disclosures. “I’ll release them, they’re not very complicated. They’re just not very exotic — but we will release them, sure.”