Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio has attacked Donald Trump for saying that Islam “hates the US”, in a televised debate in Miami.
Mr Rubio, who faces a do-or-die contest in Florida on Tuesday, said Islam had a problem with radicalisation but said many Muslims are proud Americans.
“Presidents can’t just say whatever they want. It has consequences,” he said, to cheers from the audience.
The four Republicans heeded pleas from party leaders to have a civil debate.
But on the issue of Islam, there was clear distance between Mr Trump and the others – all three of his rivals disagreed with him that the families of terrorists should be killed.
Mr Trump said he was tired of being politically correct and that “there is tremendous hate” in Islam.
But Florida Senator Mr Rubio, backed by Ohio Governor John Kasich, said: “I’m not interested in being politically correct. I’m interested in being correct.”
Mr Rubio took to the stage in his home city of Miami a long way behind Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in the race to be his party’s nominee.
Mr Trump picked up a key endorsement of Ben Carson, who last week dropped out of the race, hours before the debate.
Crucial state contests are being held in Florida and Ohio on Tuesday, as Mr Trump’s rivals try to make up ground.
Debate highlights so far:
- Mr Rubio defends trade deals that mean “America can sell things to people around the world”
- Mr Cruz says US brings in too many low-skilled workers which drives down wages of hard working Americans
- Sounding like Mr Trump, he says he is going to build a wall, triple the border control and end welfare benefits for undocumented
- Mr Trump says he will “make education great” and says former Republican candidate Ben Carson would be involved
- Ohio Governor John Kasich says he might be running for president of Croatia if it was not for immigration but the US needs to control the border
Ohio Governor John Kasich and Florida Senator Mr Rubio are under pressure to win their home states.
There are 350 delegates up for grabs on Tuesday, with the winner taking all in Florida.
Mr Trump, a billionaire businessman from New York with no political experience in office, has dominated the news, the polls and the state primary contests so far.
On Wednesday, he added to his list of controversial remarks when he told CNN: “I think Islam hates us, there’s a tremendous hatred. We have to get to the bottom of it.”
There were signs that Mr Trump has been more conciliatory of late.
After additional state wins on Tuesday night, he said he had “great respect” for House Speaker Paul Ryan.
He also discouraged booing at the mention of former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s name and urged the Republican party to “unify” behind him.
The next votes
15 March: Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio Primaries
22 March: Arizona Primary, Utah Caucuses, Idaho Caucuses (Democratic)
26 March: Alaska, Hawaii, Washington Caucuses (Democratic)
1 April: North Dakota Caucuses (Republican)
5 April: Wisconsin Primary
9 April: Wyoming Caucuses (Democratic)
19 April: New York Primary
On the Democratic side, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are battling for the party’s nomination.
Mrs Clinton is leading Mr Sanders in delegate counts so far, though his campaign has proved more formidable than expected.
Both parties will determine their nominees at conventions in July, then Americans will pick their new president in November.
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