U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio hit New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary, on Monday, with buzz growing louder that he will run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
Promoting his new book, Rubio appeared in both Hollis and Manchester on Monday, taking a few shots at the two candidates at the head of the Democratic pack in 2016: front-runner former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile,The New York Times reported Tuesdaythat Rubio is telling supporters he is committed to running for president, not re-election to the Senate in 2016, even though fellow Floridian, former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is also expected to run for the Republican nomination.
When asked about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis recent attacks on President Barack Obama, Politico reported Rubio jabbed Biden while not agreeing with his fellow Republicans assessment of Obama.
I believe the president loves his country, Rubio said. I just believe his ideas are bad for America. But heres my bigger point: Im not comparing Rudy Giuliani to Joe Biden, but every single day Joe Biden says something that would end my career if I said it once.
And I never hear Democrats having to answer for him, Rubio added. So I just wonder why is it that I always have to answer for someone else in my party? Rudy Giuliani is allowed his opinion. Hes a big boy. Hes a strong man. He can defend himself. So I do think that points to some of that bias.
Rubio also fired away at Clinton during his time in New Hampshire, Politico reported.
If Hillary Clinton runs for president, she will get more money out of Wall Street than any presidential campaign ever, Rubio said. And thats a fact! And part of the reason is because many of these industries feel very comfortable with her there These are the sorts of things we need to talk about more, because this misconception has been created that somehow big government helps the people who are trying to make it. And nothing could be further from the truth.
Democrats quickly returned fire with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hitting Rubio online while New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley slammed him as a self-interested, opportunistic politician and noted the Florida Republican met with former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., who, after losing his Senate seat in 2012, headed up to New Hampshire to run there in 2014.
Marco Rubio is in New Hampshire to convince Granite Staters that hes a fresh face for the GOP, but the reality is hes just a new package for the same failed Republican ideas of the past 30 years," Buckley insisted. Rubio isnt a principled leader pushing new ideas; hes simply a self-interested, opportunistic politician. Perhaps thats why one of his first meetings in New Hampshire is with Scott Brown.
Rubio has championed the GOPs failed economic agenda that has hurt the middle class while boosting those at the very top from defending tax loopholes and tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, to supporting turning Medicare into a voucher program, to opposing paycheck fairness, even saying that ensuring pay equity for women was wasting time, Buckley added. "Rubio's backward agenda is no different than the rest of the Republican field and would be devastating for New Hampshire's small businesses, middle class families and economy."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
