The stakes are high as Marco Rubio takes the debate stage on Saturday night in New Hampshire even if he does not look well poised to win Tuesday’s primary.
Rubio’s camp has always been open about their path to the Republican presidential nomination: third in Iowa, second in New Hampshire and first in South Carolina. After taking the bronze and almost placing second in Iowa, there are signs that Rubio has a good chance of enacting his plan in New Hampshire.
Polls are showing Rubio has gotten a bounce in New Hampshire after his performance in Iowa. Marist took a poll for NBC News and the Wall Street Journal which was released on Friday morning. While Donald Trump led with 30 percent in New Hampshire, Rubio was in second with 17 percent though Ted Cruz, who won Iowa, was right behind him at 15 percent. John Kasich was in fourth with 10 percent, Jeb Bush was next with 9 percent and Chris Christie, who appeared to have been a contender in New Hampshire, had fallen to 4 percent. With Kasich, Bush and Christie all fighting for position with him, Rubio had to see them losing traction.
Nor is that the only recent poll showing Rubio in second in the Granite State. A CNN/WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll released on Thursday had Trump ahead with 29 percent, Rubio with 18 percent, Cruz taking 13 percent, Kasich with 12 percent and Bush at 10 percent. The same day, American Research Group had a New Hampshire poll with Trump out front at 34 percent, Rubio next at 14 percent with Kasich taking 13 percent, Cruz at 12 percent and Bush claiming 8 percent.
With Trump having a solid lead, far larger of one that he claimed before the Iowa caucus on Monday night, Rubio will draw heavy fire on Saturday night. Christie and Bush have already taken off the gloves and will continue to press the attacks in the debate. But other GOP contenders will also feel the heat on Saturday night, especially Cruz who has garnered jabs from Trump, Ben Carson and other GOP hopefuls for how his team managed the Iowa win.
The stakes are high and some of the candidates--Christie, Carly Fiorina, Kasich and, perhaps, Bush--are clearly on the ropes if they don’t perform well in New Hampshire. Some of them will make their last stands on Saturday night and look to hamper Rubio as much as possible as they hope to stay in the game.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
