U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, wasted no time in throwing out an I told you so on the subject of former Republican governor Charlie Crist.
He shrugged off the outbursts from a handful of protest hecklers with some well-timed retorts.
And through most of his appearance at the Fresh From Florida breakfast before the Florida delegation at Innisbrook Resort and Spa in Palm Harbor on Tuesday, he pressed his view that the presidential campaign should be viewed as a fight among global views for America.
The challenge for us is not for America to become more like the rest of the world, the challenge for us is to try to make the rest of the world like America, said Rubio, who has been honing his international credentials since joining the Senates in 2011.
And that is what this convention is about. Its a very dramatic choice between two very different views of tomorrow. Its a very dramatic choice between two very different views of what the role of government can be and should be in making that happen.
On Thursday Rubio, who was long considered a future vice presidential selection for the GOP ticket headed by Mitt Romney, will get to introduce Romney at the Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
I believe were only one election away from a new beginning, from a new era of American prosperity, Rubio told Floridas delegates.
As for Charlie Crist, a sitting governor Rubio first defeated for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010 and later defeated in the general election, Rubio drew both applause and laugher, noting in that contest, I ran against someone whom I believe ran like a Democrat.
Now, Im not sure what hes doing nowadays, but I told you so.
On Sunday Crist penned an endorsement in the Tampa Bay Times for President Obama and on Monday accepted a speaking role at the Democrats' national convention next week in Charlotte.
Rubios speech was interrupted by several people -- at least eight were escorted from the banquet hall, which had seen increased security since Sunday and Monday at the resort -- that identified themselves as representatives of the working class.
While some of those attending the luncheon as part of the delegation shouted back, get a job and get a razor upon the first interruption, Rubio quipped, Well, I guess hes not happy with the hotel assignment before returning to his speech.
When the audience later began to chant Marco to drown out others who attempted to shout over his speech, Rubio asked, Please dont say Polo to calm the crowd.
District delegate Chelsi Henry, a 24-year-old Florida Coastal School of Law student from Jacksonville, who sits as an elected member of the Duval County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, said Rubios comment about being one election from a new beginning spoke loudest to her.
It reminded me that there is so much to be done by November 7 and so much that can be done, and that Im going to do all I can and I want that new beginning obviously, Henry said.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
