Former Congressman Allen West on Wednesday left open the possibility of challenging U.S.? ?Sen.? ?Marco Rubio,? ?R-Fla.,? ?in a Republican primary.?
West has been increasingly visible in recent weeks,? ?launching a new career as a contributor to Fox News and being active with the Allen West Guardian Fund PAC.? ?He has also left open the possibility of launching a political comeback in? ?2016.?
Appearing as guest co-host on WMALs? ?Mornings on the Mall? ?in Washington,? ?D.C.,? ?West left open the possibility of challenging Rubio if he runs for a second term.?
"We'll see what happens down the pike,?" ?West said about taking on Rubio in? ?2016.? "?God will set my feet on the right path.?"
West acknowledged that defeating Rubio would be a tall order and could benefit Democrats.?
"That's a pretty heavy lift,? ?because you're talking about running against a sitting senator,? ?and then,? ?of course,? ?that creates that schism that the other side would love to see happen,?" ?West said.?
Pressed if he would run against Rubio,? ?West left the door open to the possibility.?
"If I see people that are not taking our country down the right path,? ?if I see people that are not standing up for the right type of principles,? ?and putting their own party politics before what is best for the United States of America,?" ?West said he might run.?
West told WMAL he had problems with the immigration reform bill that Rubio has championed.?
"Do we need to do something about immigration?? ?Absolutely,?" ?admitted West before turning his fire toward Rubios bill.?
"This whole comprehensive thing,? ?I think the bill now is up to? ?1,075? ?pages,? ?West said.? ?Once again,? ?the American people don't trust that.?"
West insisted there were other issues more pressing than immigration reform.?
"You need tax reform,? ?you need unemployment insurance reform,? ?West said.? ?We need to get Americans back to work,? ?and that's the most important thing.?
As West noted,? ?challenging Rubio in the Republican primaries would be a tough task.? ?On Wednesday,? ?Quinnipac University released a poll showing Rubio in solid shape with Florida voters and in excellent shape with Republicans in the Sunshine State.? ?The poll finds? ?81? ?percent of Florida Republicans see Rubio as favorable and only? ?5? ?percent hold unfavorable views of him.? ?Only? ?8? ?percent of Florida Republicans disapprove of Rubios performance in Washington while? ?84? ?percent approve of the job he has done.?
Even on immigration,? ?Rubio gets high marks from Florida Republicans.? ?A majority -- 52? ?percent -- of Florida Republicans approve of Rubios work on immigration while? ?24? ?percent disapprove.?
West will have other challenges if he plans to take Rubio on in? ?2016.? ?While he remains a favorite of the tea party movement and among conservatives,? ?he lost his congressional seat in? ?2012.? ?West certainly has his own fundraising base and can rely on conservatives across the country to support him, but hell be hard pressed to catch Rubio in the money race.
For his part,? ?Rubio shows no signs of backing down on immigration reform and continues to insist conservatives should support it.? ?Late Tuesday,? ?Rubio pointed to a study by? ?the Congressional Budget Office which indicated his immigration reform bill will reduce the federal deficit by? ?$700? ?billion from? ?2024-2033.
"The CBO has further confirmed what most conservative economists have found:? ?reforming our immigration system is a net benefit for our economy,? ?American workers and taxpayers,? ?Rubio said.? ?There remain some key areas that need to be tightened up to prevent those who have violated our immigration laws from accessing federal benefit programs.? ?But overall,? ?the CBO report offers encouraging evidence that the status quo is unacceptable and we can end it without burdening our already burdened taxpayers and,? ?in fact,? ?reduce the deficit over the next? ?20? ?years.?"
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at? 904-?521-3722
