[Tapper:] Welcome back to THE LEAD. Politics now. Donald Trump has been firing rhetorical salvos at rival Marco Rubio for weeks now. This week, Trump sent him something else 24 bottles of Trump Ice Natural Spring Water, and some towels. It was a care package to Rubio's Washington campaign office, along with a note that read, "Since you're always sweating, we thought you could enjoy some water. Enjoy". Rubio responded this morning, saying it seemed like top-notch water and that he was, quote, "grateful for the gift." Let's get right to CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash. Dana, this all comes as Rubio rises in the polls and he attracts attention and also scrutiny.
[Dana Bash, Cnn Chief Political Correspondent:] Scrutiny especially when it comes to his voting record. He has actually missed more votes this year than any other Republican senator running for president. And the big vote today in the Senate was on a defense authorization bill. Usually, they're bipartisan and aren't really in jeopardy, which is why Rubio didn't feel compelled to come back from the campaign trail. And it was a decision that was nearly a political mistake.
[Bash:] Marco Rubio has missed many Senate votes but this was almost a political disaster.
[Unidentified Male:] On this vote, the yeas are 73, the nays are 26.
[Bash:] For a while, it looked like Republicans would need Rubio's help in beating back a Democratic filibuster of a military funding bill.
[Unidentified Male:] Senator Marco Rubio.
[Bash:] He was hundreds of miles more on the presidential campaign trail.
[Sen. Marco Rubio , Presidential Candidate:] There are times when you're not going to be there. Now, let me tell you, we have canceled events and traveled across the country to make votes, especially if we can make a different or if it's a high profile
[Unidentified Male:] So you don't think
[Bash:] Rubio didn't cancel today's trip to New Hampshire and lucky for him after high drama, a 15-minute vote dragged out for an hour and a half, so many Democrats broke ranks that Rubio's absence did not cause an embarrassing Republican defeat. One that would have been worse since another Republican presidential candidate, Ted Cruz, was presiding in the Senate.
[Sen. Ted Cruz , Florida:] The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule.
[Bash:] Rubio's former mentor, Jeb Bush, regularly hits him on it, telling voters that senators should only get paid if they show up for work.
[Jeb Bush , Presidential Candidate:] Everybody works to provide for families. Why is it that people miss votes in the U.S. Congress in such a rampant way? I think if they miss a vote, there should be a deduction in their pay. And I hope you do as well.
[Bash:] Donald Trump is on his case, too.
[Donald Trump , Presidential Candidate:] He's got the worst attendance record. You can't do that. You've got to vote. You know, people elect you to a position, you've got to vote.
[Bash:] Rubio is slowly climbing in the polls, which puts him squarely in the sights of the GOP front-runner.
[Trump:] Rubio is not the guy negotiating with the kind of people you have to negotiate to turn this around.
[Bash:] That as Trump insists he's in this for a long haul.
[Trump:] I'm not going anywhere.
[Bash:] Now, Rubio sources say, he regrets missing votes but it's not practical to travel the country running for president while being in Washington to cast votes. And they privately insist he's not going to pay a price with presidential primary voters for missing Senate votes because they say many of those voters view the Senate as a waste of time anyway.