http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/insiders-rubio-wins-debate-too-late-to-matter-220621Insiders: Rubio wins debate too late to matter
GOP Caucus members see little chance Trump's standing shifts after last forum before Tuesday's votes.
By Steven Shepard
03/11/16 05:21 AM EST
Marco Rubio delivered a strong debate performance on Thursday night – but it probably won’t save him in Florida next week against Donald Trump.
That’s the verdict rendered by The POLITICO Caucus, a panel of activists, strategists and operatives in key states participating in the presidential primary process this month -- including Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, which vote on March 15.
A majority of Republican insiders said Rubio won the debate. But another quarter gave the victory to a subdued Trump, who wasn’t under siege from his opponents as in the past two debates.
“Marco was crisp, focused and apparently unaware of the tough week he's had,” said a Florida Republican, who, like all insiders, completed the survey anonymously. “He did what he needed to do to change the subject from the demise of his campaign (at least for one day).”
Debating in his hometown – and at the University of Miami, where Rubio attended law school – the Florida senator was credited by insiders with conveying a positive, forward-looking message and displaying unique strength on a question about the Obama administration’s move to normalize relations with Cuba.
But even some insiders who said Rubio performed well also indicated that he did little to damage Trump, who is leading both public and private polling ahead of next Tuesday’s winner-take-all primary.
“While he had some strong points especially when talking about Cuba,” an Ohio Republican said, “it is not enough to deliver his home state on Tuesday.”
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