Rubio wins, Bush loses GOP debate

So say The Washington Post, The Washington Times, CNN.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush sought on Wednesday to calm anxious donors with a comeback strategy focused on taking down rival Sen. Marco Rubio, Fla.

But Bush’s plan “backfired badly on national television” in the third GOP presidential debate, says an Associated Press analysis.

“Instead of generating much needed momentum, Bush’s attack on his onetime protege raised new questions about his underwhelming candidacy in the primary contest he was once expected to dominate,” AP says.

“Swing and a miss,” says Tim Alberta in the National Review. “It was the story of the night, the story of the debate, and it might soon be the story of Jeb Bush’s campaign.”

Bush’s lackluster showing is likely to spur even more questions about his viability as a top-tier candidate, with his campaign manager insisting immediately after the debate that Bush will stay in the race for the long haul, says Reuters.

Here is the AP’s fact check of the debate.