Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush committed a major foul in Wednesday's GOP presidential debate when he attacked Florida Sen. Marco Rubio over the votes he has missed in the Senate, said political operative and Bush family insider Mary Matalin.
"It’s a violation of Debate 101. You never ask the opponent something you know he’s prepared for, which, clearly, Rubio was," Matalin said Sunday on
"The Cats Roundtable" on AM 970 in New York. "It was nothing short of political malfeasance."
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Bush's team had been attacking Rubio's Senate attendance for days before the debate, so Rubio had a prepared response when Bush told him he should either get back to work or resign.
"The only reason you're [attacking me] now is because we're running for the same position," Rubio responded to his friend and former mentor. "Someone convinced you attacking me is going to help you."
When asked by host John Catsimatidis which Republican currently has the inside track, Matalin replied, "My money right now is on [Texas Sen.] Ted Cruz … He’s whip smart … Everything’s lining up for him."
Cruz led the attack against the moderators in Wednesday's debate whom he accused of asking questions just to get the candidates to spar with each other rather than focusing on substantive issues.
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