Rubio struggles to answer opponents' criticisms in GOP debate

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire

All eyes are guaranteed to be on Sen. Marco Rubio after a debate performance where many thought he faltered. The senator from Florida was the center of attacks from several of his opponents.

One of the first questions from the moderators focused on Rubio’s political achievements. Rubio’s record has made headlines this week after former Sen. Rick Santorum, who endorsed Rubio after dropping out of the race himself, couldn’t name an achievement of the Rubio’s during an interview.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pounced on the opportunity to bash Rubio.

“You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you have been held accountable,” claimed Christie. “He simply does not have the experience to be president.”

Immigration was a major issue in the debate on Saturday. Several candidates took aim at Rubio for being part of the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of senators who sponsored a bill that would give amnesty to illegal immigrants that are already in the country.

“It’s abundantly clear that he didn’t fight for the legislation,” Christie sternly said, accusing Rubio of running away from his own bill.

“It passed in the Senate, but there wasn’t support across America,” Rubio responded.

Rubio’s opponents used his own words against him, comparing him to President Obama after Rubio continuously repeated the same phrase four times as he tried to blame the president for damaging the country. But those efforts fell short.

“Rubio is a gifted politician but we did that with President Obama, who has divided the country,” said Gov. Jeb Bush, comparing Rubio to the president -- both first-term senators when they launched their presidential bids.

There were other highlights to the debate, one of which happened before the candidates even had the chance to start duking it out.

At the beginning of the debate, Dr. Ben Carson didn’t hear his name announced, staying backstage, causing utter confusion among the other candidates who were called after him. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush passed him, as Carson stood bewildered in the walkway to the stage. Donald Trump, whose name was said right after Carson’s, stood with him until both were welcomed to the podiums, again.

Another highlight surrounded Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, specifically about when Cruz’s campaign staff sent out a message on the night of the Iowa caucuses saying Carson might soon drop out of the race. Cruz referenced a CNN news report that claimed Carson was “taking a break” from the campaign trail to go back home.

Cruz later issued an apology to Carson, something he did again on Saturday night during the debate.

“It gives us a good example of Washington ethics, and that’s not my ethics,” said Carson.

Even though Cruz apologized, the issue was raised again at the very end of the debate during closing statements, this time by Donald Trump.

“That’s because you got Ben Carson’s votes,” Trump said, responding to Cruz’s closing statement about his win in Iowa, an allegation Cruz hopes New Hampshire voters will look past when they vote in the primary on Tuesday.