Jeb Bush backers prep for debate by leaking plans to destroy Marco Rubio

Aides to Jeb Bush and the super PAC backing him are so freaked out and betrayed by Sen. Marco Rubio's rise in the Republican presidential polls and Bush's decline, they are setting aside up to $20 million to sink Rubio's campaign and previewing an attack ad criticizing Bush's former protégé as too extreme on abortion to get elected president, report Maggie Haberman and Michael Barbaro at The New York Times, citing at least three people "privy to" discussions and preparations in the Bush camp.

Bush and Rubio are facing off in a Republican debate on Tuesday, and given how poorly Bush's jab at Rubio went in the previous debate — Rubio was ready with a preplanned counterpunch — political Twitter is confused as to why Team Bush would be previewing another attack.

Mike Murphy, the top strategist for Bush's Right to Rise super PAC, had a simpler explanation, telling The Times that "part of running for president is you have to put your big boy pants on and get vetted on the issues, so we know we don't have a dud candidate running against Hillary Clinton." When the reporters asked him about Bush's decade of effusive on-camera praise for Rubio — Team Rubio has a highlight reel ready — Murphy replied: "We all supported him for the Senate. We all support him staying there, because he is far from proving he is ready and experienced enough to be president of the United States in a dangerous time."

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Rubio and Bush are fighting for the same slice of the Republican electorate and donor class, but Rubio seems to be less of a problem for Bush's campaign than Bush. In a new McClatchy-Marist poll, 58 percent of Republican voters said the more they learned about Rubio, the more they liked him, with 27 percent saying they liked him less. For Bush, those numbers are upside-down: 58 percent said they like him less the more they learn, versus 32 percent who liked him more. That poll was conducted Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, right after the last debate. We'll find out Tuesday night if Bush will try to strike again. You can read more about the Bush camp's planned assault at The New York Times.