Primary colors: Marco Rubio's reckoning looms in Florida primary
Politics
Primary colors: Marco Rubio's reckoning looms in Florida primary
Marco Rubio was among the Republican Party's biggest stars when he burst on to the national stage in the tea party wave of 2010. Now, he is facing a home-state showing on Tuesday that could devastate his 2016 presidential campaign and damage his political brand for years to come. The Cuban-American's desire to become the nation's first Hispanic president, and his past support for a forgiving immigration policy, have failed to excite conservative primary voters who instead have flocked to Donald Trump's nativist politics.
Marco's always had good timing. This time, the timing just wasn't there.
Albert Lorenzo, who managed Rubio's first state house campaign nearly two decades ago
Albert Lorenzo, who managed Rubio's first state house campaign nearly two decades ago, says that should his bid end in disappointment, the senator's career in public service is far from over. The 44-year-old Republican could run for Florida governor in two years, president in four years or even his own Senate seat later this year. Others, however, see a heavy defeat tomorrow could spell the end. "I think a loss in Florida is very bad for Rubio's political future. It is hard to argue that Rubio is the right guy to run for governor of Florida if he couldn't win a presidential primary there," said Mark Meckler, a longtime leader in the national tea party movement.
I haven't even thought about what I'm having for lunch today, much less what I'm going to run for in two years or nothing at all.
Marco Rubio