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Politics

After Poor Outing in New Hampshire, Marco Rubio Woos Social Conservatives in South Carolina

February 10, 2016 - 9:30am
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio

Following his underwhelming showing in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., shifted the tone of his campaign as he looks ahead to South Carolina. 

After his third place showing in Iowa, Rubio and his team made no secret of their strategy: second place in New Hampshire and winning the gold in South Carolina. But a poor performance in Saturday’s debate undermined Rubio in the Granite State and he placed fifth in the Republican primary, behind businessman Donald Trump, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida. 

Rubio left no room for doubt as he conceded New Hampshire that his lousy debate performance led to his poor showing in the primary. Early Wednesday morning, Rubio tried to rally supporters. 

“On Saturday night at the debate, I dropped the ball. I want you to know that will never happen again," Rubio insisted. “We are heading to South Carolina, Nevada and beyond. Make no mistake: We are going to win this nomination.

“I know how to come from behind,” Rubio added. “We’re going to show America what leadership and a vision for a ‘New American Century’ look like.”

One strategy Rubio might embrace in South Carolina, where religious and social conservatives play an important role in the Republican primary, is stressing his own faith. 

Even as the results were coming in from New Hampshire on Tuesday night, Rubio sent out an email to supporters, showcasing a video where he talks about religion in his own life. 

“At the debate this past weekend, I mentioned that the Obama administration and the left have it out for religious Americans who want to live their beliefs -- it's a serious threat to our fundamental values, and it'll stop when I'm president,” Rubio wrote. “I've talked about my own faith on the campaign trail some, and a few weeks ago, I was asked by a self-identified atheist about why I've done so. In fact, he asked if I was running for ‘pastor in chief’...Conservatives -- believers and non-believers alike -- loved seeing someone stand up for religious freedom and the importance of faith in the public square. 

“I want to live in a country where Americans feel comfortable living out their faith, in private and in public,” Rubio added. “But as I mentioned at the debate, we've seen from the attacks liberals will level -- and the policies of the Obama administration -- that some on the left don't agree.  I've promised to voters everywhere I go: I will not be a president who will pit you against any other group of Americans, but I'm going to be honest about my values. 

“Issues like the role of faith in the public square, marginalized by this president and liberal extremism, are foundational to who we are as a country,” Rubio insisted. 

In the meantime, Democrats and their allies are piling on Rubio after his showing in New Hampshire. 

“Rolling into South Carolina, where Rubio's steadily polling in a weak, third-place position, Team Marco's 3-2-1 plan has very quickly become an out-of-reach fantasy," liberal PAC AmericanBridge noted on Tuesday night. “Tonight's finish -- losing out to John Kasich -- is decidedly not the establishment-lane consolidation that the folks at Rubio HQ were hoping for -- and it's a major setback for Rubio's candidacy moving forward.”

Liberal group Correct the Record (CTR) also went after Rubio on Tuesday night, releasing a Web video hitting the Florida Republican. 

“3-2-1, liftoff? Nope,” CTR emailed the media. “Marco Rubio had a very bad week, and it ended with a dud. He can count down from 3, but he can't count on votes.”

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN

Comments

Finally, NH was able to see what many Floridians have known for years, about Rubio & Bush. BOTH losers, both somewhat arrogant, and both are clearly dangerous in their respective 'thoughts' and actions. In Bush's case, IF elected, would he have Mommy move into the White House? In Rubio's case, ahhh, never mind. This country can't ever be dumb enough to elect this twit!

"Rubio & JEB",..two 'former' politicians with no 'job prospects' going into the New Year 2017. (I even heard one media "wag" refer to " Marco Polio"...and then act as if it was a 'faux pax'..).

"Rubio & JEB",..two 'former' politicians with no 'job prospects' going into the New Year 2017. (I even heard one media "wag" refer to " Marco Polio"...and then act as if it was a 'faux pax'..).

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