Rubio supporters mixed on debate performance

Marco Rubio answers questions at a town hall. Photo by Anna Sortino

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Some supporters of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., thought Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., rattled him on questions of experience in the last debate between the Republican candidates for president before the New Hampshire primary.

Christie and Rubio engaged in a tense exchange, when Christie accused Rubio, a first-term senator, of not having the executive experience necessary to be president. “It does matter when you have to make decisions and be held accountable for them,” Christie said.

Rubio responded with a jab at Christie’s performance managing New Jersey’s budget. He said, “I think the experience is not just what you did but how it worked out. Under Chris Christie’s governorship of New Jersey, they’ve been downgraded nine times in their credit rating.”

Rubio added that he believes President Barack Obama’s agenda has been intentional, more so than other Republicans have been recognizing. He used a similar line four separate times throughout the debate.

“He sounded like he was repeating himself,” Ashley Tarchara said at a gathering of supporters that the Rubio campaign hosted Saturday night at the University of New Hampshire’s campus here to watch the telecast.

Christie came back even more intensified, saying that the habit of repeating prepared lines is typical Washington politics.

“That’s what Washington, D.C., does,” he said. “The drive-by shot at the beginning with incomplete and incorrect information, and then the 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him.”

Joe Paru, who drove with Tarchara from Boston to attend the event, agreed. “Christie seems more off the cuff,” he said.

Though Paru thought Christie came out looking the better of the two, he said he would still support Rubio. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “Everyone talks to advisers.”

Attendees also pointed to what they thought were stand-out moments in Rubio’s performance. The senator went into detail in response to a question about the Islamic State. He said the United States should establish a coalition with Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

“He has more knowledge about foreign affairs,” said Larry Getman, a Rubio supporter from Bow, about 10 miles north of here. Getman added that the candidate’s answer about ISIS was among his favorite moments from the debate. Getman, 61, said Rubio is the first candidate he has volunteered to contact voters for, and the first to whom he has made a financial contribution.

Ben Newman, the central Florida chair for the Rubio campaign, was in Manchester and attended the event. He said, “Rubio showed command of the facts and details.” He cited Rubio’s answers on foreign policy as highlights of the night.

For Newman, Rubio’s reframing of the parties’ positions on abortion was another important moment.

“On abortion, the Democrats are the extremists,” Rubio said at the debate, lamenting that Democratic candidates had yet to be pressed on the issue.

Danny Cannon, of Arlington, Virginia, agreed, naming the candidate’s answer on abortion as his favorite moment of the night. Indeed, that line drew more applause from the crowd than any other Rubio gave.

With just days left before New Hampshire votes, Cannon couldn’t predict how the results would fall.

“I have no idea,” he said. “This race is crazy.”