The Washingtonian magazine released its Best and Worst of Congress survey of congressional staffers this week and politicians from the Sunshine State took home some of the awards but most of them proved dubious honors.
First launched back in 1986, the survey is gathered once every two years to gain some insight on what congressional staffers think about their bosses and other elected officials in both wings of the Capitol.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was considered by congressional staffers to be the Best Speaker in the Senate. Unfortunately for Rubio, a potential 2016 rival placed second in the form of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
But Rubio finished second behind yet another 2016 rival -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas -- as the biggest disappointment in the Senate.
Rubio finished behind Paul when it came to Most Likely to Run for President and congressional staffers contrasted the two Republican senators, stressing that Rubios role on immigration reform has lowered his chances to win the White House.
Politicians will spend millions in consultant fees divining the curiously diverging fates of senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, the Washingtonian noted. The Floridian Rubio thought to kick off a once-promising presidential run by angling toward the middle (and the GOPs 2016 it constituency, Latinos), offering ideas on immigration reform. The only votes that Rubios moderate moves got him in our survey were for biggest disappointment. Meanwhile, Kentuckys Rand Paul, who was voted rising star, has appeared before traditionally Democratic sectors -- the nose-ring digital natives at Berkeley and African-Americans -- without tarnishing his sterling tea party chops.
Rubio was not the only member of the Florida delegation to win some dubious distinctions in the survey. Over in the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., who was first elected to Congress back in 1992, was named Worst Speaker in her chamber.
Brown placed second as the Most Clueless member of the House behind U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga. Fittingly enough, Johnson came right behind the North Florida Democrat when it came to the Worst Speaker category.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
