--- title: Marco Rubio's 'Mansplaining': Clinton Super PAC Runs Ad description: The super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio of "mansplaining" at the debate. canonical: https://time.com/4093236/marco-rubio-hillary-clinton-mansplainer/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-29T18:34:55.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:57:18.098Z article:section: Politics og:title: Marco Rubio's 'Mansplaining': Clinton Super PAC Runs Ad og:description: The super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio of "mansplaining" at the debate. og:url: https://time.com/4093236/marco-rubio-hillary-clinton-mansplainer/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ffd503c0b0d3027/69886ea6bc6cfc1e4d3da22c/marco-rubio-missed-votes.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: Presidential candidates Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks during the CNBC Republican Presidential Debate at University of Colorados Coors Events Center October 28, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Marco Rubio's 'Mansplaining': Clinton Super PAC Runs Ad twitter:description: The super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio of "mansplaining" at the debate. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ffd503c0b0d3027/69886ea6bc6cfc1e4d3da22c/marco-rubio-missed-votes.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Clinton Super PAC Hits Rubio as 'Mansplainer' > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: 2016 CNBC GOP DEBATE: Rubio Defends His Personal Finances [Watch (HLS stream): 2016 CNBC GOP DEBATE: Rubio Defends His Personal Finances](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9m3qdsZg.m3u8) (0:22)  _Published 2015-10-29. 2016 CNBC GOP DEBATE: Rubio Defends His Personal Finances_ by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Oct 29, 2015 6:34 PM UTC  Presidential candidates Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks during the CNBC Republican Presidential Debate at University of Colorados Coors Events Center October 28, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. Presidential candidates Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks during the CNBC Republican Presidential Debate at University of Colorados Coors Events Center October 28, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado.Justin Sullivan—Getty Images by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Oct 29, 2015 6:34 PM UTC The super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton’s campaign is accusing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio of “mansplaining” in Wednesday night’s debate in a new web video. The attack from Priorities USA—a step short of calling the surging Republican sexist—stemmed from his comments in which Rubio said he struggled to explain his student loan debt to his wife after they were married. The [15-second video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MQpBu-U3iM&feature=youtu.be) takes the longer quote out of context, as Rubio was under pressure to explain his family’s financial choices during the debate. The video, which is already drawing criticism on Twitter from Republicans, appears targeted to rile up Clinton’s democratic base, rather than appealing to independent voters. It reveals the extent of the Clinton allies’ worry about the potential matchup between the charismatic and youthful Rubio–whom Jeb Bush’s campaign has termed the “GOP Obama”—against the former Secretary of State. Rubio’s strong performance in the CNBC debate, as well as Bush’s continued troubles, are sure to boost Rubio’s poll numbers, but also increase the scrutiny he receives from Democrats. **Read Next:** [_Here’s How Marco Rubio Defended His Personal Finances at the Debate_](http://time.com/4091932/republican-debate-marco-rubio-finances/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4093236/marco-rubio-hillary-clinton-mansplainer/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4093236/marco-rubio-hillary-clinton-mansplainer/"},"headline":"Clinton Super PAC Hits Rubio as 'Mansplainer'","datePublished":"2015-10-29T18:34:55.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:57:18.098Z","description":"The super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio of \"mansplaining\" at the debate.","url":"https://time.com/4093236/marco-rubio-hillary-clinton-mansplainer/","keywords":["Hillary Clinton","Sen. 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