MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd were so impressed Thursday night with Sen. Marco Rubio’s, R-Fla., GOP debate performance that they couldn’t help but wonder whether he’s the one to beat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
“Put him next to Hillary Clinton,” Matthews said shortly after the debate had concluded. “He has a zest … maybe it’s youth. It’s confidence that he knows exactly what he wants to say.”
“I think if Hillary Clinton had to face the Marco Rubio that we saw tonight,” he added, addressing Todd, “she’d be thinking, ‘How do I handle that guy?'”
Todd responded, “Look, you talk to Democrats and they all are concerned about it, because Rubio presents that generational contrast. Just look particularly in the television era, just look at the last 50 years. More times than not, the younger candidate, the next generation when presented has won that race.”
“As Americans, we usually want to move forward. That’s what makes [Rubio] such a dangerous opponent for Hillary Clinton,” he added.
Mathews agreed, adding that both he and Todd “may be on to something tonight.”
