HOUSTON, Texas, Feb 25 AP - Presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz head into the Republican debate eager to seize one last chance to slow front-runner Donald Trump's momentum before next week's Super Tuesday mega-round of voting.
Senators Rubio and Cruz so far have shown little willingness to take on the former reality television star when the national spotlight shines brightest.
But that may well change on Thursday night (1230 AEDT Friday), in the ninth Republican debate of the presidential campaign.
"The vast and overwhelming majority of Republicans do not want Donald Trump to be our nominee," Rubio told NBC, suggesting Trump is winning only because the other candidates are splitting the Republican voters who don't like him.
Trump's surprising hold on the top spot has remained strong in the raucous contest to pick a Republican candidate in the November election, despite his politically incorrect statements against Hispanics and Muslims, salty language and a self-funded campaign without spending on television advertising.
But Trump may well become the inevitable Republican after the Super Tuesday votes next week in 11 states, with 595 delegates at stake.
So far, after four primary and caucus contests, Trump has 82 delegates, Cruz has 17 and Rubio has 16. A candidate must have 1237 state delegates to win the Republican nomination at the party's convention this summer.
The New York billionaire predicted the relative civility until now between Rubio and himself won't last.
Thursday's debate will take place just a few days before 11 states hold Republican elections that could either cement Trump's dominance, or let his rivals slow his march to his party's nomination.
One of the early casualties of the Republican presidential race, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, showed no reluctance on Thursday to assail Trump head-on, calling him "a nut job" who's likely to win the Republican nomination but lose the general election.
Thursday's debate, with CNN and Telemundo as partners, is the only one of the season steered to a Spanish-speaking as well as English-speaking audience, so immigration could be a closely watched issue.
Vice President Joe Biden said during a visit in Mexico on Thursday that some of the campaign rhetoric about Mexico has been "dangerous, damaging and incredibly ill-advised".
Biden said the Republican candidates "do not represent the view of the vast majority of the American people".
The presidential campaign is now shifting to a broader new phase, making a strong debate performance even more important.
Trump won Nevada's presidential caucuses on Tuesday with more than 45 per cent of the vote, scoring his third consecutive primary victory in dominant fashion. Rubio edged Cruz for runner-up for the second straight time.
Cruz and Rubio are seeking to become the Trump alternative. Since the departure of Bush from the race, Rubio has won a number of endorsements from Republican leaders. The latest came on Thursday from Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.
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