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Politics

Carlos Beruff Needs to Scramble to Catch Marco Rubio

June 5, 2016 - 6:00am
Marco Rubio and Carlos Beruff
Marco Rubio and Carlos Beruff

Down 50 percent or more in most polls against Marco Rubio, Republican Senate hopeful Carlos Beruff simply doesn’t have time to waste as he tries to catch the incumbent in next month’s primary. 

Beruff’s camp, of course, hopes to follow the same gameplan Donald Trump used back in March in the presidential primary when he routed Rubio by 20 percent. But Trump was far better known than Beruff who remains unknown to many Republicans. 

Last week, the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) released a poll showing Rubio up 71 percent to 7 percent against Beruff with Republicans. Rubio was seen as favorable by 71 percent of Republicans while 21 percent viewed him unfavorable. Beruff was barely above water with 11 percent seeing him as favorable and 9 percent as unfavorable. Based on this and other polls, while they might not want him to be president in 2016, Florida Republicans haven’t jettisoned  Rubio quite yet.

Granted, Florida Republicans often prefer to back candidates who’ve never held elected office before. Beruff can take some inspiration from the likes of Rick Scott and Curt Clawson who opened up their own wallets as they came out of nowhere to win primaries and then the general elections. But Scott and Clawson were not facing incumbents. While Bill McCollum was well known in 2010 when Scott beat him in the gubernatorial primary, he simply wasn’t as established as Rubio is now.

Beruff also doesn’t have the luxury of time. Even before Rubio’s late entrance, Beruff wasn’t particularly well established and, as the AIF poll shows, that still remains the case. Beruff has also shown a tendency to shoot himself in the foot. He can’t afford to waist days trying to clarify why, for example, he called President Barack Obama an “animal” or explaining why he listed Cuba as his place of birth. 

Nor are Beruff’s conservative credentials fully in order. Beruff’s drawn fire for backing Charlie Crist even after that politician left the GOP, for his stance on trade with Cuba and over releasing his tax returns. Given the short primary window, Beruff can’t afford to stay on the defensive for long. To his credit, Beruff has shown no hesitation in going after Rubio which is his only real chance to pull off the upset. Beruff also has done his best to claim Trump’s mantle even as the presumptive Republican presidential candidate called on Rubio to run for a second term. That’s easily Beruff’s best card to play against Rubio as he gets ready to flood the airwaves with attack ads. 

Beruff wanted a clear shot at Rubio and, with David Jolly, Ron DeSantis, Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Todd Wilcox all dropping out, he got it. But he doesn’t have much time to make his case against Rubio. Beruff is going to have to pull out a herculean effort to knock off Rubio over the span of less than two months even as voters will be more focused on summer vacations, Zika, the presidential contest, the Olympics and other matters. Even after Trump thumped Rubio in the primary, Beruff has a nearly impossible task before him.

Comments

Little Marco would be well served to have someone fluent in English proof read his statements and - certainly - don't let him speak off the cuff. Marco is an oily little weasel and I don't have much use for him. I don't want him back in the Senate. I would prefer never to hear from him again. But as strongly as I feel that way, I feel stronger that I want to keep a Republican in the Senate. Even an oily, self serving, self promoting weasel like Lil Marco.

@Trapper. Beruff is Republican! GO TRUMP!!

Just in case anyone hasn't been watching, Beruff and low life Rubio are almost neck and neck. The reason being Mr. Rubio has been resting on his laurels while Beruff has been progressing forward. Rubio is in deep doc-doo! Go Trump!!

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