Florida

‘We Have to Win Florida': Marco Rubio Holds Rally in Hialeah

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Marco Rubio held a rally in Hialeah Wednesday as he hopes to gain ground on GOP frontrunner Donald Trump ahead of Florida's primary.

"I need your help, we have to win here in Florida," Rubio told the crowd of supporters. "It was always going to come down to Florida, this state is always in the middle of every political fight and it will be again."

Rubio spoke hours after a Quinnipiac University poll was released that showed Trump ahead of Rubio among likely Florida Republican primary voters 45 to 22 percent.

Rubio said he is worried about "dirty tricks" in the Florida primary, which will be held March 15.

"If anyone calls you, if anyone tells you 'Marco Rubio is getting out,' you tell them you heard it from me, they are lying to you," Rubio said. "We are going to work as hard as it takes, because we are going to win Florida and we will win the nomination."

The Florida senator encouraged everyone to vote and spoke at length, in both English and Spanish, about the American Dream.

"I learned about the American Dream by knocking on your doors. I learned about the American Dream by going into your living rooms," he said.

Rubio also spent part of his day at Florida International University, participating in a town hall moderated by Chuck Todd. One student asked him about Christian principles and his verbal attacks on Donald Trump.

"In terms of things that have to do with personal stuff, yeah, at the end of the day, that's not something I'm entirely proud of. My kids were embarrassed by it, and if I had to do it again, I wouldn't," he answered.

Rubio also spoke to NBC 6 one-on-one about the importance of a Jeb Bush endorsement.

"I've met with him and we've spoken a number of times. But I'm not gonna discuss private conversations. It suffices to say I have great respect and admiration for him, and I think anyone who has his support would benefit from that."

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