With a 20-point lead in the latest Sunshine State News Poll, Republican Marco Rubio isn't burning any bridges on his way to the U.S. Senate.
Rubio, speaking to reporters after a campaign appearance in Port St. Lucie Thursday, tried to steer clear of the brewing conflict between Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and fire-breathing conservative Jim DeMint of South Carolina.
This week, McConnell said Senate Republicans would be willing to "work with" President Barack Obama after the fall elections. The Kentuckian suggested that if Republicans win big next month, a chastened Obama may be willing to compromise on future legislation.
DeMint is having none of it. He blasted GOP leaders for equivocating at the very time voters appear poised to overwhelmingly reject the Obama agenda and punish Democrats at the polls.
Though DeMint was one of the first senators to actively support his candidacy, Rubio initially sounded more like McConnell than his mentor.
"I'll work with anyone who's serious about growing the economy," Rubio said. That includes McConnell and even Obama Democrats, "if they're serious," Rubio added.
Warming to the subject, the former Florida House speaker opined that Republicans need to be more than merely "the opposition" to Democrats.
"We're going to be the alternative," Rubio said.
DeMint isn't so demure. Delivering campaign cash to conservative candidates, including Rubio, the South Carolinian has ruffled the feathers of mainstream Republicans who initially backed then-Republican Charlie Crist for Senate.
McConnell's attempt to extend an olive branch to the Obama administration has inflamed tea party groups and conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh, who say the GOP leadership on Capitol Hill needs to grow a spine.
DeMint said this week that he would rather leave the Republican Party than to be party to the kinds of legislative compromises that, he believes, caused the GOP to lose its congressional majorities.
Those comments, in turn, sparked a nasty squabble -- among Republicans.
Writing at redstate.com, Erick Erickson reported:
"Senate Republicans are more than a little unhappy with DeMint. The Senate GOP will see an influx of DeMint-backed candidates after November. Consequently, the Senate GOP has become more fixated with marginalized Jim DeMint than fighting Barack Obama.
"For perspective, McConnell wont even campaign against or speak ill of Harry Reid to help Sharron Angle. But his minions are all over Washington newspapers bad-mouthing DeMint."
Rubio hasn't gotten to Capitol Hill (yet), but it looks like he will have to choose sides in his own party soon.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341
