Rivals mock 'Robot Rubio' on the campaign trail

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Marco Rubio appeared to pull ahead of the establishment pack after last week’s Iowa caucus. But with the New Hampshire primary under way, his rivals sense an opening. All thanks to “Robot Rubio” malfunctioning.

Rubio’s GOP counterparts repeatedly have hit the Florida senator for his inability to go off-script and the robotic sameness of his speeches. So has MSNBC commentator Joe Scarborough who recently called him "programmed" and "risk-averse." Nobody has done a better job of needling Rubio on his preset talking points better than New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

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The combative governor got Rubio to blow a gasket during the Republican debate Saturday. He highlighted how Rubio could not stop repeating variations of the same talking point “Obama knows exactly what he’s doing.” Christie savaged him for his repetition. The next day Robot Rubio seemed to glitch again.

The senator has been the subject of some excellent trolling since the meltdown. Costumed robots have shown up at recent campaign stops in New Hampshire. One Rubio supporter even scuffled with an automaton.

Exposing Rubio as an android might not matter if establishment candidates Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Christie can’t close the gap tonight. The most recent New Hampshire polls put outsider candidate Donald Trump way out in front. Rubio and Kasich are in a virtual tie for second with Bush (and Ted Cruz) not far behind. Christie, despite his attack dog performance, sits around sixth.

See the gallery above for the best #RobotRubio memes and photos.