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Politics

Marco Rubio to CNN: Jeb Had the Florida Base Sewn Up Early

May 29, 2016 - 3:00pm
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio

For the first time on national television, Marco Rubio discussed Sunday morning why his campaign came unglued during a presidential run that once held so much promise.

In a CNN "State of the Union" interview, the Florida senator told program anchor Jake Tapper his fundamental problem was that he "didn't have a logical political base on which to build," given former Gov. Jeb Bush's supremacy in the Sunshine State, especially among donors. Rubio said that caused him to spend an inordinate amount of time on private fundraising visits.

What resulted was that Rubio was often faced with having to defend himself during the primary season for his light footprint in several primary states, including Iowa, where he finished a surprisingly strong third.

"The argument is, should we have picked a couple of states and said, 'here's where we're going to lay a marker and win'? Sure. That sounds great in hindsight," he said. "Here's the reality: If I had said that about Iowa and finished in third, that would have been the last night of my campaign."

Rubio then hoped to finish second in New Hampshire, but was derailed by a disastrous debate performance at the hands of Chris Christie, who mocked him for clinging to memorized sound bites. "I walked right into that trap," Rubio told Tapper.

Had he finished second in New Hampshire, Rubio said he believed he could have come in first in South Carolina.

In fact, Rubio revisited nearly every turn of his presidential run -- not just how his campaign had come unglued, but his evolving position on Donald Trump and his "complicated relationship" with Jeb Bush.

Among his biggest regrets, Rubio said, was belittling Trump for the size of his hands in the leadup to Super Tuesday. He told Tapper he apologized to Trump privately.

"I actually told Donald -- one of the debates, I forget which one -- I apologized to him for that," Rubio said. "I said, 'You know, I'm sorry that I said that. It's not who I am and I shouldn't have done it.' I didn't say it in front of the cameras, I didn't want any political benefit."

Rubio made it plain a number of times that his softened stance on Trump is more the thought of the alternative ("We can't afford Hillary Clinton") than it is a wholehearted I'm-all-aboard on the Republican nominee's positions. Rubio said he would be willing to speak on Trump's behalf at the convention.

Rubio brushed aside his past criticism of Trump, praising him as "the ultimate change agent." He even said Trump may be developing "perhaps a more comprehensive approach" on some policy questions.

"I don't think he should change if he's been successful," Rubio said when asked about Trump dredging up scandals of the 1990s to attack Hillary Clinton. "I may not like that direction, but at this point, he won and this is the direction that he won on."

Rubio said probably the most distressing aspect of the campaign ultimately was having to fight Bush, his political mentor. The pair memorably clashed in an early debate last fall, when Rubio beat back a Bush attack on his low Senate attendance record.

Not only did Rubio fail generally, he failed to win his home state, and certainly Bush's failure to endorse him before the Florida primary didn't help. Rubio pulled out immediately after that primary. He called that the "toughest part of the campaign."

"The negativity about our progress was so bad that a lot of voters, I think, concluded, you know, he's not going to win, Trump is going to win," Rubio told Tapper. "And that momentum really impacted Florida. I'm not sure there was anything we could have done at that stage about it, to change that trajectory."

Rubio said he and Bush have spoken a few times since their campaigns ended.

What's next? Rubio, pressed by national party leaders, has left the door ajar to re-enter the race for his current Senate seat. But he again ruled out running for governor in two years and reaffirmed his dream of serving as commissioner of the NFL. He also said he expects to work in the private sector in some capacity.

"I'll learn from this," a pensive Rubio said of his campaign, "and whether I run for president again one day or run for something else or do this in the business world, there are lessons I will take from this that will make me stronger and better as a result."

Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith

Comments

Way to go little Marco

Marco Polio,.. "Hide your face" for about eight more years and think about "The Gang of Eight" and how you "shot yourself in the foot" after Floridians (as well as other Americans across this nation) handed you "all the ammunition you needed"... Now, go "age like fine wine and bad cheeze" and pray that our memories are as short as "they" say they are...

Rubio is a lightweight opportunist who is more interested in running for higher offices than doing the job he was elected to do. He should just become a lobbyist.

It was encouraging to read rubios piece. Many of us were shocked at the turn around in Rubio, but could do nothing more than let it happen. Bush walked into the debates like he was walking on water, acting like he had just arrived from heaven to save us all. His demeanor was awful, nose in the air. I guess he thought he was Gods gift to all of us. Surely glad THAT didn't go anywhere.

I would like to see Rubio run again for his Senate Seat. I think he wouldn't have a problem winning it. He is still liked a lot and we sure could use his true conservative votes. Go Rubio.

Rubio's running for President was too soon after that Gang of 8 incident. It was still to fresh in people's minds. Rubio is very articulate and I think he does have a future in politics if he decides to go down that path again. I wouldn't mind seeing him in some type of advisory role to the Trump administration as it relates to Cuba. .

Point well taken. Perhaps Mr. Rubio should consider returning to Cuba and take up politics there? GO TRUMP!!

Mark Mr. Rubio doesn't have to return to Cuba because he is American, whether you like it or not.

Actually, rubio is Cuban-American, if you want to be technical, but either way he's been worthless in politics, worthless as the people's elected representative, and simply, just worthless. The best thing Florida's voters have done were to soundly reject his bid to be president! If he couldn't carry his own state, his politics became worthless (still).

Anyone notice the theme in this little story? It's everyone else's fault but his. Particularly when a clear and vast majority of Florida's Republicans soundly rejected him, along with his worthless political 'soundbites'. Frankly, little Marco Rubio is nothing more than a phony so I thank God Florida's majority of voters rejected him! GO TRUMP!!

Funny! I didn't get that out of it at all. What I read was the man I know to be a sincere Christian is repentant of many of the off-color and mean things that began to dominate all of the candidates, and I see a young man who will succeed at whatever he does in the future. I can only say to you again, Mak, "what have you stepped up to the plate to do for your country, that you feel so self-righteous as to think it is ok to say such judgmental things about another person, who has just put his heart and soul and family into running for President of this United States?"

Extremely well said. Character is not made when a person wins, it's made by what they do when they fail.

Can't argue with the fact that Rubio certainly is a character! Too bad he was never any good at representing the voters instead of trying to climb the ladder without paying his dues! I hope he turns his promise into another lie and runs to keep his seat. Only this time, he'll be handed a sound defeat, as he was in his presidential run! People have had enough of liars and cheats in office. GO TRUMP!!

Well said, Carol!

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