Posted on 05/05/2009 8:54:22 AM PDT by PhiKapMom
BY BETH REINHARD
Three months after starting to raise money for a U.S. Senate race, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio on Tuesday confirmed the obvious: He's a candidate.
Rubio's announcement made good on his promise not to be cowed by a potential rivalry with Gov. Charlie Crist, the most popular politician in Florida. Crist is expected to announce his political plans after Friday's final vote on the state budget.
''I don't think the odds are that long,'' Rubio said of his prospects against a potential Crist Senate run. ``Races of this magnitude are decided by who presents a clearer picture of the future, and I intend to do that.''
At a time when the Republican Party is struggling to reinvent itself nationwide, Rubio is seeking to portray himself as a more conservative alternative to the governor. Crist has drawn scorn from some Republicans for supporting President Obama's spending plan, though polls show most voters support it.
''The more Republicans become less distinguishable from Democrats, the less people will vote for Republicans,'' Rubio said. ``I don't agree with the notion that to grow our party we need to become more like Democrats.''
Rubio took the governor to court in 2007, arguing that Crist had overstepped his authority when he negotiated a gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe. The Florida Supreme court eventually ruled in Rubio's favor, invalidating the gambling agreement.
With the Democratic Party poised to lock down a fillibuster-proof majority in the Senate, Florida's contest is expected to be one of the most closely watched races in the nation in 2010. Republican Sen. Mel Martinez is stepping down.
Rubio has hired Brian Seitchik to run his campaign. Seitchik has never managed a race in Florida and recently left the California insurance commissioner's rocky campaign for governor.
The major Democratic candidates for Florida's Senate seat are U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach.
I do believe that Crist is going to steamroller him flat
But we will see.
There are “coat tail” benefits.
Having a Conservative to vote for, at the top of the ticket, will HELP get conservatives elected, in all the other Republican Primary races on the ballot.
Crist would in the Democrat primary but this is the Republican Primary. Last thing we need in DC is Charlie Crist, the ZERO supporter.
Not quite. Look, Crist is very popular in Florida, and would probably win a general election hands down. I’m not disputing that. However, 2010 is an off year ( non presidential ) and interest is down, and in the primary, who comes out to vote. The hard core base. And in Florida, that base is fairly conservative. Rubio, if nothign else, will force Crist to the right..which is a good thing.
Here is a link to his announcement on his website:
He's exacty the same cookie like our California govner, and like all rino's its the watermelon syndrome: the inside is a much different color from the outside: ALL RED.
I hope this helps Lt Col Allen West of Florida’s 22nd district!!!! We need to support him.
He’d be a better senator than Governor Suntan.
Crist is a poser. I walked my precinct and worked the phones for him when he ran for governor.
I will not do that this time around.
He has zero support for Senate in this household, and I bet I am not alone.
Crist MUST be stopped this time. He makes Mel Martinez look like Jesse Helms.
Floridians for Immigration Enforcement on Marco Rubio.
Thanks for your inquiry. You are welcomed and encouraged to disseminate this message widely within your Republican Club or wider.
Below is a well-documented trail by 2008 Florida Speaker Marco Rubio to block consideration of all immigration enforcement bills during his tenure.
Floridians for Immigration Enforcement (FLIMEN) attempted to get the Florida Legislature to consider and pass six state-level immigration enforcement bills. Contrary to the arguments of Speaker Rubio and others, immigration enforcement is not the exclusive responsibility of the federal government. About 12 states, excluding Florida, have enacted E-Verify, 287(g) and other enforcement measures. These state-level bills have survived legal challenges and are now working very successfully.
Prior to the Session the FLIMEN Political Committee received an assurance from a Rubio aide that all bills would be allowed to move. That was a lie.
The trail is very clear that Speaker Rubio bottled up the bills to never move toward even a hearing. Speaker Rubio did placate Floridians by allowing a workshop but he never intended the bills to move out of committee. Speaker Rubio used his lieutenants Rivera and Zapata to smear pro-enforcement Floridians with false racial allegations.
Marco Rubio in the opinion of all pro-enforcement immigration activists would be another pro-AMNESTY Senator in the footsteps of the unpopular Rove-Bush-endorsed Senator Mel Martinez.
Marco Rubio favors his personal cultural preferences over the rule of law.
If he were elected Senator Marco Rubio would no doubt continue to promote open borders, AMNESTY and non-enforcement which are clearly detrimental to Floridians.
The Republican Party is at a transition point.
Will the GOP forsake principles to expand into the big burning tent in a manner similar to the McCain loss or will the party stand by principles like equality and the rule of law?
I certainly hope your Republican Club will flatly and honorably refrain from endorsing Marco Rubio for Florida Senator.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Dave Caulkett, VP, FLIMEN
Porkulus is popular right now, giving Crist momentary cover for backing O. I suspect it will become less and less popular as time goes on; hopefully in time for 2010.
Marco actually tried to enact a Florida-version of the FairTax. He created a plan to replace property taxes with a sales tax increase. Unfortunately, liberals like Charlie Crist blocked him. If Floridians can’t get together and defeat old Crist with Rubio, that will be pathetic. Crist is NOT popular except with RINOS’s and Libs. He’s young and he is a Catholic conservative. Photobucket
Marco Rubio is a politician who rose to one of the most powerful political posts in Florida at a young age, becoming one of the highest-ranking Cuban-Americans in the state. From November 2006 through November 2008, Rubio is speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. That puts him in position to single-handedly stop any piece of proposed legislation. A speaker of the House also has a good chance at turning an agenda into law. A Republican, Marco Rubio champions a conservative, smaller-government approach to government in the Florida state Capitol, in contrast with other elements of the Republican-controlled state government which are more moderate or centrist. Marco Rubio is seen as a politician in the mold of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who advocated more conservative approaches when he was governor of Florida for eight years ending in 2007. During 2007, Marco Rubio championed a major overhaul of the Florida tax system. He wanted to slash property taxes, increase sales taxes, and cut the amount of money going to local governments. His effort failed, although the Florida Legislature passed a more modest plan. Much of what he pushed in his first year as speaker the time when a presiding officer in the Florida Legislature has the greatest influence came from a book of citizen recommendations he published called 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future. Marco Rubio, a resident of West Miami, Florida, was elected to the House of Representatives in a special election on Jan. 25, 2000. He was subsequently re-elected each November. He represents the 111th House District. He was born May 28, 1971, in Miami. He previously served as a City Commissioner of the City of West Miami. Marco Rubio, who is an attorney, has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from the University of Miami. His official office address is: The Honorable Marco Rubio, Speaker, Florida House of Representatives, 420 The Capitol, 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300. For more information go to http://www.myfloridahouse.gov
I think if Floridians got serious and began NOW, he could beat Crist. I don’t know where this “Crist is so popular and well liked” crap comes from. I don’t know a single person that likes him. He has a good record on gun laws, other than that he’s a closet lib and a closet *(((
I see the moonbats are already gunning for him in the comments. Pathetic.
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