Trump attacks Rubio on ‘amnesty’ as he files for New Hampshire ballot

Donald Trump (R) and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) on Wednesday became the first presidential candidates to officially file paperwork for New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary.

Trump, a leading candidate for the Republican nomination, took shots at rival Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and others when filing at the statehouse, CNN and others reported.

In particular, Trump attacked Rubio for winning the backing of billionaire Paul Singer, a hedge fund magnate who is one of the most influential donors in the GOP.

{mosads}“Paul Singer represents amnesty and he represents illegal immigrants pouring into the country and now he’s with Rubio,” Trump said, according to the Boston Herald.

“Rubio is totally in favor of very, very lax rules. … Now Rubio is surging in New Hampshire? I don’t think so.”

A new poll released this week found Rubio’s poll numbers skyrocketing in New Hampshire, placing third in the Republican race behind Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

Meanwhile, lagging Democratic candidate O’Malley pushed back against “old names or polarizing figures” while filing for the ballot Wednesday, ABC reported.

Wednesday was the first day for candidates to file paperwork to be on the ballot in New Hampshire, which is expected to hold its primaries Feb. 9, a week after Iowa’s caucuses.

Candidates have until Nov. 20 to submit paperwork and a $1,000 filing fee in New Hampshire, though most candidates are expected to file before then, except Carson.

Rubio and former businesswoman Carly Fiorina (R) are slated to file their paperwork Thursday, along with Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) are scheduled to file their paperwork on Friday, and others later, according to the secretary of State’s website.

Thirty Republicans and 14 Democrats representing 26 states were on the New Hampshire ballot in 2012, with 42 on the ballot in 2008 and 37 on the ballot in 2004.