A humbled Marco Rubio took the blame for his disappointing New Hampshire finish on Tuesday night — then sought to raise money from it.
"On Saturday night at the debate, I dropped the ball. I want you to know that will never happen again," a fundraising appeal from the Rubio campaign says.
After Rubio finished a stronger-than-expected third in the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, his campaign touted “Marcomentum” and tried to define the Republican nomination fight as a three-candidate race. But after touting himself as a top-tier candidate, Rubio casts himself as an underdog in his new fundraising pitch.
“I know how to come from behind,” the email says. “We’re going to show America what leadership and a vision for a New American Century look like.”
Rubio's fortunes shifted after a Saturday night debate in which New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ripped him for delivering the same talking point about President Barack Obama four times.
Rubio doubled down on his remarks the next day. But on Tuesday night, after finishing fifth in New Hampshire, he told supporters he regretted his debate performance.
“I want you to understand something. Our disappointment tonight is not on you, it’s on me,” Rubio said. “It is on me. I did not do well on Saturday night — listen to this: that will never happen again. That will never happen again. Let me tell you why it will never happen again. It’s not about me, it’s not about this campaign, it is about this election. It’s about what’s at stake in this election.”
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