WEST PALM BEACH, Fla-- The fight is on for Florida's vote.
In the Sunshine State it could come down to Donald Trump and Florida Senator Marco Rubio in the winner-take-all primary next Tuesday.
Facing an almost must-win situation, Rubio stopped in West Palm Beach Friday to speak to Florida's Jewish community about Israel.
Hot off the stage from last night's Republican debate in Miami, Senator Marco Rubio is emphasizing foreign relations.
He made a stop at Temple Beth El here in West Palm Beach to talk to Jewish and National Security leaders about Israel.
"Let me be abundantly clear," said Rubio. "When I am president, we will be taking a side, and we are going to be on Israel's side."
He echoed much of what we heard in Thursday night's debate.
Rubio says he wants to strengthen U.S. ties with Israel. Once again, he went after front-runner Donald Trump for wanting to try and negotiate an agreement with the Palestinians.
"Forcing Israel to the negotiating table, as Trump intends to do, only weakens Israel and only emboldens their enemies," said Rubio.
Rubio said anyone who wants considers neutrality right now is not pro-Israel. He added that a peace deal is just not possible at the moment.
This is an idea that resonated with the synagogue's head rabbi, Rabbi Feldman.
"When you are neutral to your best friend, you're not loyal to your friend. You cannot be neutral to your best friend," said Rabbi Leonid Feldman.
Rubio also addressing the two big political prizes next Tuesday.
He says he has not discussed any sort of teaming up with his opponents to stop Trump.
However, Rubio says he's the only candidate who can beat Trump in Florida, and acknowledges the same for Governor Kasich in Ohio.
"If a voter in Ohio concludes that voting for Kasich gives us the best chance to stop Donal Trump there, then I anticipate that's what they'll do," said Rubio.
Rubio is still trailing Trump and Cruz in the delegate count.
As for Florida, polls shows he's still about 10 points behind behind Trump here in his home state. Other polls suggest there could be a bigger gap.
That is ground he is desperately trying to make up before Tuesday.
