Donald Trump Remains Ahead of Republican Rivals in Florida

“When it comes to Sen”.

As he did during the debate, the Texas senator declined to say what he would do with the estimated 11 million immigrants now in the country illegally, but he accused Rubio of joining with Democrats to support “amnesty”.

“The fact that I introduced an amendment to remove part of the Gang of Eight bill doesn’t mean I support the rest of the Gang of Eight bill”, Cruz said.

The Cruz campaign staff immediately reinforced his opposition to legalization by saying, “His plan is attrition through enforcement”.

“I understand why Donald made that proposal”.

CRUZ: “I have never supported legalization, and I do not intend to support legalization”.

But Cruz shot back, saying that “the only thing that has shifted is the language of the establishment”.

But Cruz got attention in 2013 for trying to thread the needle on immigration – supporting an increase in guest worker visas but opposing a path to permanent status – and even some conservatives turned on him as not fighting amnesty hard enough. “And now of course in this campaign, he’s looking for a political advantage”.

Republican presidential candidate former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is exploring steps to take his feud with Donald Trump to a whole new level. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks in Las Vegas. Caught up in the weeds and minutiae of legislative politics on immigration, Cruz suggested he did not support legalizing illegal aliens, and Marco Rubio insisted Ted Cruz was a liar. “We will secure the borders”, added Cruz, “and finally end sanctuary cities”.

Senator Rubio hit back on Cruz criticizing him on defense spending and calling into question judgment when it comes to revealing national security. Cruz said that “nearly 100 percent” of phone numbers can be checked for terror ties under the new program, compared with “20 percent to 30 percent” under earlier Patriot Act provisions.

The leaked audio of Cruz questioning Trump’s “judgment” perhaps offers an explanation for why Cruz has been treating the front-runner with kid gloves while attacking Rubio.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who had been in second place at 16 percent in October, dropped to 5 percent support in the new poll. Bush’s points were completely lost in the fascination with Trump’s mugging.

She concluded, “here’s what the Rubio people want this contest to come down to, they want us to not talk about substance”. I believe that gravity will bring both of those campaigns down. “And I will always oppose amnesty, citizenship or legalization, and I encourage Sen”.