Rubio Guts 'Con Artist' Trump

Down in the polls, presidential hopeful Marco Rubio unleashed a flurry of attacks on front runner Donald Trump at last night's GOP debate. Rubio meticulously questioned Mr. Trump's past business practices, painting him as nothing more than a showman and huckster. It was a new line of attack for Rubio and his most fiery debate performance to date.

Rubio first attacked Trump for hiring illegal Polish workers, suggesting he is a hypocrite on his tough immigration stance. He then asked why Trump makes the ties and suits for his clothing line in Mexico and China, saying if he really cared about bringing jobs back to the U.S. he would produce them here. He next hit him on his golden spoon, suggesting Trump would be selling watches in Manhattan if not for the $200 million he inherited from his father. Then, in perhaps his hardest punch, Rubio attacked Trump over lawsuits related to his failed Trump University venture. Rubio claims Trump University was a "fake university" that charged students $36,000 to get a picture with a cardboard cutout of Trump. Rubio also hit Trump on his neutral Israel stance, his pro-Planned Parenthood position, and his failure to produce his tax returns, among other things.

The barrage was merciless and Ted Cruz also got in on the action.

Trump fired back, calling Rubio a "choke artist" for his miserable New Hampshire debate performance. On the looming tax return question, Trump said he can't release them because he is being audited by the IRS.

Mitt Romney, who brought the tax returns into focus earlier this week, said an audit should not stop the businessman from producing his returns. On Twitter, Romney said there is "No legit reason @realDonaldTrump can't release returns while being audited, but if scared, release earlier returns no longer under audit."

Rubio continued to lace into Trump this morning. On CBS' This Morning Rubio said, "a con artist is about to take over the conservative movement and the Republican Party and we have to put a stop to it."

While Rubio's debate performance is being described as "spectacular" it is unclear if it is too little too late to stop Trump's momentum ahead of Super Tuesday.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Instacart jumps 10% on report of potential sale to Uber or DoorDash
• Micron, Sandisk gain as SK Hynix scraps Solidigm IPO, LYNX says
• Infosys falls despite revenue beat as guidance disappoints