washington republican presidential candidate chris christie dismiss puppet former mentor jeb bush call fit serve up-and-coming republican marco rubio become man beat next week new hampshire primary rubio unexpectedly strong third-place show monday iowa caucus make target rival republican candidates focus campaign new england state first-in-the-nation primary christie new jersey governor former florida governor jeb bush ohio governor john kasich hope strong show new hampshire boost flag campaign become republican nominee nov. election replace democratic president barack obama christie say thursday would race lose rubio new hampshire kasich tell audiences would go back ohio get smoke u.s. senator ted cruz iowa caucus strong evangelical christian credentials expect less appeal voters new hampshire real estate mogul donald trump second-place show iowa raise question well popularity survive vote booth christie one rubio fierce critics week call first-term u.s. senator florida boy bubble day iowa vote continue personal vein attack thursday control candidate see race handlers handle time christie say fox news need take control atmosphere believe control hillary clinton fall say clinton former secretary state battle u.s. senator bernie sanders vermont democratic nomination bush whose establishment republican credentials guarantee public support also turn former protege wednesday take full-page ad lead new hampshire newspaper union-leader attack rubio ready serve commander chief nearly every political leader florida stature know marco jeb record join us endorse governor bush ad read rubio garner significant endorsements since monday include u.s. senator tim scott south carolina hold primary month u.s. representative matt salmon arizona co-founder conservative house freedom caucus additional report susan heavey edit andrea ricci sap sponsor content independently create reuters editorial staff fund part sap otherwise role coverage rubio attack new hampshire primary race heat