2nd in N. H. polls, Rubio becomes target in GOP debate

MANCHESTER, N. H. Sen. Marco Rubio did not have the center podium at the Republican presidential debate Saturday, but he did appear to be the prime target for the other contenders.

Coming off a surprisingly strong third- place finish in Iowa, the Florida senator is now in second in New Hampshire, according to most polls.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Rubio “is a smart person and a good guy” but then proceeded to pepper him with attacks, say- ing he does not have enough decision- making experience to be president. “You have not been involved in a consequential decision, where you had to be held accountable,” he said.

Rubio fired back that Christie’s experience is in leading New Jersey into failure, with repeated downgrades of its credit rating.

Rubio repeatedly tried to change the focus to President Obama, saying the president is trying to fundamentally change America. “All this damage that he's done to America is deliberate,” Rubio said.

Rubio was not the only one taking flak.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who won the Iowa caucuses last week, apologized to neurosurgeon Ben Carson for his campaign suggesting that Carson had dropped out of the race. Carson was not assuaged, calling the episode “a very good example of certain types of Washington ethics,” where you do anything to win.

Jeb Bush attacked Donald Trump’s use of eminent domain — the government’s power to take private property — to kick an elderly woman out of her home for a casino project. Trump waved off the attack, saying the project never went through, and Bush just “wants to be a tough guy.”

JEWEL SAMAD, AFP/ GETTY IMAGES Sen. Marco Rubio and Donald Trump are the focus of attacks by fellow candidates in a GOP presidential debate Saturday.