Riding a wave of tea party support and anti-Obama angst, Republican Marco Rubio crushed independent Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek to become Florida's newest U.S. senator.
Rubio's triumph was no surprise, as opinion polls showed the former Florida House speaker building and holding a commanding lead since Labor Day. With Crist and Meek splitting a dispirited and apathetic liberal vote, Rubio was declared the winner just seconds after the polls closed.
Florida spoke, and spoke overwhelmingly, Meek said Tuesday night. Praising Rubio, he added, For someone who came from the outside, to come to the inside and take a commanding lead in the race almost a month ago is to be commended.
Greeted by former Gov. Jeb Bush at a victory night party at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Rubio acknowledged "gracious phone calls" from Crist and Meek, and he thanked God for his blessings.
But, in a rhetorical salute to the tea party movement, Rubio said, "It would be a grave mistake to interpret tonight's election results as an embrace of the Republican Party."
Rather, he said, this election means "a second chance" for the GOP.
Garnering roughly half the vote, Rubio's margin of victory closedly tracked an Oct. 31 Sunshine State News Poll, which showed Rubio, Crist and Meek at 48-31-20, respectively.
Son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio campaigned on a patriotic platform, touting what he called "American exceptionalism." Giving voice to tea party devotees, the Republican frequently contrasted his free-enterprise principles with Democrats' big-government agenda, which he warned would bankrupt the country and impoverish the next generation.
When mentioning Obama, Rubio did it obliquely and often in a jocular fashion. On the campaign trail, the rising Republican star often declared he had no desire to become president, then added, "I wouldn't mind winning the Nobel Peace Prize -- though I understand you have to be in office for a couple of weeks to get that."
Photogenic, energetic and always on message, the 39-year-old Miami lawyer ran circles around Crist and Meek in the debates and on the stump. In a year when independents were swinging back to the right and Democrats appeared demoralized, Rubio's pro-business conservativism resonated with voters.
As Election Day drew near, Crist and former President Bill Clinton were involved in back-room efforts to move Meek out of the race in hopes of consolidating the center-left vote with the governor. But Meek, a four-term congressman, would not budge, and Rubio sailed to victory.
Exit polls showed that 48 percent of independents went for Rubio, vs. 37 percent for Crist, the "independent."
Incoming state Senate President Mike Haridopolos applauded Rubio's victory, saying, From reversing the Obama/Pelosi agenda, to reducing government spending in Washington to spurring our state and national economy, Sen.-elect Rubios conservative ideals will ring true for Florida in our nations capital.
Rubio assumes the seat held by Republican George LeMieux, who was appointed by Crist to fill the vacancy left by Mel Martinez, who retired last year.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
