MIAMI (AP) – Donald Trump promised a softer side as he and his three remaining Republican rivals prepared to square off Thursday night in their final debate before next week’s all-important big-state presidential primaries. He also vowed to “finish off what you have to finish off” – raising questions about which Trump would show up.
Each of the candidates had an urgent mission as the Miami GOP debate gave them one last chance to put their case to a televised audience of millions before voters in Florida and four other states dish out a trove of delegates Tuesday. Those elections will go a long way toward determining the outcome of the primary season.
Ted Cruz was seeking to cement a position as the party’s last, best alternative to Trump. Marco Rubio was out to save his flagging candidacy by energizing voters in his home state of Florida. John Kasich was hoping his above-the-fray strategy would finally pay off.
Trump, for his part, was itching to give his front-runner’s campaign a giant thrust toward the nomination by dominating his dwindling cast of rivals.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in advance he was hoping for a more “G-rated debate” than the last Republican face-off, a week ago, when the candidates engaged in a two-hour brawl that featured shouting, insults and even sexual innuendo.