Rubio: I Am Not Running Against Donald Trump, ‘I Am Running for President’

NBC’s Lauer Spends Interview Pestering Rubio About Trump (NewsBusters)

On Friday’s NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer spent a three-minute interview with Florida Senator Marco Rubio grilling the Republican presidential candidate on an opponent’s debate performance: “Donald Trump refused to rule out a third-party run. He says he's using it as leverage to make sure the party treats him well. Sounds like a bit of a threat to me. How does that impact the way you and other candidates take him on directly?”

Rubio responded: “Well, it doesn't impact it at all. And the truth is...I’m not running against any of the other people who are on that stage. I'm running for president.” Lauer was not satisfied: “Let me ask it this way. As you stood on stage last night listening to what he said and watching what he did, did you find yourself thinking, ‘If I am not fortunate enough to be the nominee of this party I could enthusiastically support Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States and commander-in-chief’?”