During an unusually personal and often testy Republican presidential debate Wednesday, Marco Rubio stayed his optimistic course. While a number of feuds within the crowded field intensified, the Florida senator refused to deviate from his message about reviving the American dream. And he refused to lay a finger on any of his rivals.
Unlike many of his fellow top-tier candidates, he didn't interrupt, he didn't initiate personal attacks, he didn't avoid policy details, and he obeyed Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” He went after President Barack Obama's policies on Syria and Russia and discussed immigration. He resisted an opportunity to double down on criticism of Donald Trump's lack of foreign policy expertise. He turned the other cheek when Trump attacked him for having the worst attendance record in the Senate.
