Marco Rubio's Lead Shouldn't Be Harmed by Debate

Submitted by Kevin Derby on October 6, 2010 - 8:07pm

The debate between the U.S. Senate candidates ended with a question on the states ban on gay adoption that was overturned last month by a Miami court. Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation, said he backed the decision and attacked Republicans, including rival Marco Rubio and U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, for discriminating against homosexuals. Crist called himself a fiscal conservative and a social moderate who was consistent against government intervention.

Rubio fired back that Crist backed those positions when he was a Republican before leaving the GOP in April, before attacking the governor and Democratic nominee U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek on fiscal matters.

Meek compared Crists record on gay issues to George Wallace, the pro-segregation governor of Alabama who made numerous runs for the White House.

Nobody has fought harder for minorities in the state of Florida than I have, replied Crist, adding that Meek was on the far left and Rubio on the far right.

The debate ended with no closing statements from the candidates.

With Meek mired in third place in the polls, he did what was expected -- he went after both Rubio and Crist while stressing his record and liberal positions to woo Democrats who may think of backing the governor.

Rubio attempted to link both Crist and Rubio to politics-as-usual. but he often seemed to get trapped in entanglements with Meek which allowed the governor to come in and condemn both parties and insist he was above such partisanship. But Crist also had his rough moments as he was hammered by both sides.

With Rubio ahead by double digits in the polls, he survived the debate and avoided being knocked down. But he did not exactly shine. Fortunately for Rubio, neither did either of the other candidates. The debate changed nothing and had no dramatic moments that will cause Rubio to hemorrhage support. Since Meek and Crist did not win the debate, Rubio did not lose it -- an important factor as he has a substantial lead in the polls.

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