US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would love to run against Democratic rival Bernie Sanders in the general election, calling him a "communist". Trump made the remarks at a rally in Tampa, Florida, which drew more than 10,000 people, according to local media. The New York billionaire marvelled at the size of the crowd, joking that the best location in the University of South Florida's Sun Dome was right behind him.

"These people are all going to be famous," he said as his supporters cheered. "You're all on television, so smile and have a good time."

Trump then launched an attack on both of his Democratic counterparts, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

"I'd love to run against her. I'd also love to run against the communist," he said, referring to Sanders, who calls himself a democratic socialist.

"We're going to have a communist against an entrepreneur. I like the entrepreneur, right? Don't you think?" Trump said.

During his speech, he also responded to former Mexican President Felipe Calderón saying that his country would not pay for Trump's proposed wall between the US and Mexico.

"So I get a call from one of the reporters yesterday, and they said, 'The president of Mexico said they will not under any circumstances pay for the wall.' They said to me, 'What is your comment?' I said, 'The wall just got 10 feet higher,'" Trump cried, followed by laughs and applause from the audience.

Republican presidential candidates will take the stage at CBS News' televised debate on 13 February, where Trump will be flanked by rivals Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush, the network said.

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Donald Trump Bernie Sanders Hillary Clinton US Election