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| Marco Rubio battles sinking feeling as campaign hopes come down to Florida | Marco Rubio battles sinking feeling as campaign hopes come down to Florida |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| When Marco Rubio mounted a stage in the majority Cuban city of Hialeah on Wednesday, his first order of business was not to outline, as he typically does, the high stakes of the US presidential election but to instead dispel a set of rumors. | |
| Over the past 48 hours, the Florida senator was dogged by murmurings in the press that he was considering whether or not to suspend his campaign before his home state hosts its critical primary on Tuesday. | Over the past 48 hours, the Florida senator was dogged by murmurings in the press that he was considering whether or not to suspend his campaign before his home state hosts its critical primary on Tuesday. |
| But addressing his supporters from inside a football stadium, a defiant Rubio dismissed the chatter as an effort to discourage Floridians from voting for him. | But addressing his supporters from inside a football stadium, a defiant Rubio dismissed the chatter as an effort to discourage Floridians from voting for him. |
| “Let me tell you something: I will be on that ballot on Tuesday,” he said. “I will campaign as long and hard as it takes. We are going to the White House. We are going to win this nomination.” | “Let me tell you something: I will be on that ballot on Tuesday,” he said. “I will campaign as long and hard as it takes. We are going to the White House. We are going to win this nomination.” |
| Beneath his veneer of confidence was the reality that Rubio faces mounting pressure after a series of losses in the Republican primaries that have only appeared to grow more bruising with each passing contest. And while some polls show Rubio slowly inching closer to Donald Trump in Florida, several others find the Republican frontrunner leading by double digits. | Beneath his veneer of confidence was the reality that Rubio faces mounting pressure after a series of losses in the Republican primaries that have only appeared to grow more bruising with each passing contest. And while some polls show Rubio slowly inching closer to Donald Trump in Florida, several others find the Republican frontrunner leading by double digits. |
| Even a number of influential conservatives who had previously waxed poetic about his prospects threw in the towel on Wednesday, suggesting that Rubio should suspend his campaign. | Even a number of influential conservatives who had previously waxed poetic about his prospects threw in the towel on Wednesday, suggesting that Rubio should suspend his campaign. |
| Absent a win in Florida, it is all but certain Rubio will have no other option but to quit the race. And so while crisscrossing his home state with the fate of his presidential aspirations in their hands, Rubio is imploring voters to understand the urgency of the moment. | Absent a win in Florida, it is all but certain Rubio will have no other option but to quit the race. And so while crisscrossing his home state with the fate of his presidential aspirations in their hands, Rubio is imploring voters to understand the urgency of the moment. |
| “It always comes down to Florida. I need you to get out and vote,” he told the crowd in Hialeah. | “It always comes down to Florida. I need you to get out and vote,” he told the crowd in Hialeah. |
| The previous evening, speaking in an airport hangar in Sarasota, Rubio struck a similarly pressing tone: “It has to happen here, and it has to happen now.” | The previous evening, speaking in an airport hangar in Sarasota, Rubio struck a similarly pressing tone: “It has to happen here, and it has to happen now.” |
| Related: Donald Trump taunted by Cruz and Rubio during Republican debate | Related: Donald Trump taunted by Cruz and Rubio during Republican debate |
| “I’ve always been an underdog,” he added. “My whole life I’ve had to scratch and claw and earn each and every step of the way.” | “I’ve always been an underdog,” he added. “My whole life I’ve had to scratch and claw and earn each and every step of the way.” |
| It is indeed a familiar role for Rubio, who at just 44 years of age has defied the odds at virtually every stage of his political career. | It is indeed a familiar role for Rubio, who at just 44 years of age has defied the odds at virtually every stage of his political career. |
| It began with a successful bid at the age of 26 for city commissioner for West Miami in a building Rubio returned to last week to cast an early vote for himself for president, blocks away from where he grew up. | It began with a successful bid at the age of 26 for city commissioner for West Miami in a building Rubio returned to last week to cast an early vote for himself for president, blocks away from where he grew up. |
| Then came a run for the Florida house of representatives, where he quickly rose to become its first Cuban American speaker, and an ambitious campaign for the US Senate in 2010. The latter experience is one Rubio has pointed to while seeking the presidency as evidence that he has been in this kind of longshot position before. | Then came a run for the Florida house of representatives, where he quickly rose to become its first Cuban American speaker, and an ambitious campaign for the US Senate in 2010. The latter experience is one Rubio has pointed to while seeking the presidency as evidence that he has been in this kind of longshot position before. |
| At the time, as Rubio recounts frequently on the stump, his primary opponent was Charlie Crist – the incumbent governor of Florida who had the backing of the Republican establishment and a campaign war chest of millions. Rubio’s standing in the polls was so low that his backers embraced the name “the 3% club”. | At the time, as Rubio recounts frequently on the stump, his primary opponent was Charlie Crist – the incumbent governor of Florida who had the backing of the Republican establishment and a campaign war chest of millions. Rubio’s standing in the polls was so low that his backers embraced the name “the 3% club”. |
| Rubio has relied on the story throughout his bid for president to recall his origins as an insurgent candidate who took on the political class and won. | Rubio has relied on the story throughout his bid for president to recall his origins as an insurgent candidate who took on the political class and won. |
| But this time it is Rubio – having now spent six years in Washington – who risks defeat at the hands of a political outsider: Donald Trump. | But this time it is Rubio – having now spent six years in Washington – who risks defeat at the hands of a political outsider: Donald Trump. |
| And so in his Sarasota rally, Rubio repurposed his Crist analogy to reflect his uphill climb against the reality TV star. After mocking Crist, as he usually does, for switching from Republican to independent and later Democrat – “Now I hear he’s a vegetarian,” Rubio joked – the senator warned that Trump was a liberal in conservative clothing. | And so in his Sarasota rally, Rubio repurposed his Crist analogy to reflect his uphill climb against the reality TV star. After mocking Crist, as he usually does, for switching from Republican to independent and later Democrat – “Now I hear he’s a vegetarian,” Rubio joked – the senator warned that Trump was a liberal in conservative clothing. |
| The New York billionaire, he pointed out, had donated money to Democrats, defended Planned Parenthood and refused to take sides between Israel and Palestine. The few hundred people who turned up to see Rubio speak cheered in agreement. | The New York billionaire, he pointed out, had donated money to Democrats, defended Planned Parenthood and refused to take sides between Israel and Palestine. The few hundred people who turned up to see Rubio speak cheered in agreement. |
| The challenge remains that the droves of voters casting their ballots for Trump do not seem to care much that he is challenging the Republican orthodoxy. And Floridians, like most other Americans, are simply frustrated with the status quo. | The challenge remains that the droves of voters casting their ballots for Trump do not seem to care much that he is challenging the Republican orthodoxy. And Floridians, like most other Americans, are simply frustrated with the status quo. |
| Alex Burgos, a spokesman for Rubio, said Trump’s support in Florida is reflective of the trend taking hold across the country. | Alex Burgos, a spokesman for Rubio, said Trump’s support in Florida is reflective of the trend taking hold across the country. |
| “The national exposure Donald Trump has had for his campaign, it’s not even close,” Burgos said, adding that Florida is home to some of the most expensive media markets in the country. | “The national exposure Donald Trump has had for his campaign, it’s not even close,” Burgos said, adding that Florida is home to some of the most expensive media markets in the country. |
| “When you have that national profile, when you’re able to inundate the national TV airwaves, it is a factor.” | “When you have that national profile, when you’re able to inundate the national TV airwaves, it is a factor.” |
| Several Super Pacs are hoping to blunt Trump’s momentum by flooding the airwaves with ads attacking the business mogul. Some were recently formed by Republican operatives with the express purpose of preventing a Trump nomination; another, the pro-Rubio Conservative Solutions Pac, has dedicated nearly $8m largely toward anti-Trump advertising. | Several Super Pacs are hoping to blunt Trump’s momentum by flooding the airwaves with ads attacking the business mogul. Some were recently formed by Republican operatives with the express purpose of preventing a Trump nomination; another, the pro-Rubio Conservative Solutions Pac, has dedicated nearly $8m largely toward anti-Trump advertising. |
| Rubio’s team is also hoping for a strong debate showing on Thursday in Miami, paired with an aggressive campaign schedule through the primary. | Rubio’s team is also hoping for a strong debate showing on Thursday in Miami, paired with an aggressive campaign schedule through the primary. |
| Another unknown is whether the state’s former governor Jeb Bush, who exited the GOP race last month, would make an endorsement. | Another unknown is whether the state’s former governor Jeb Bush, who exited the GOP race last month, would make an endorsement. |
| Although Bush was scheduled to meet with Rubio, as well as Ted Cruz and John Kasich, on Thursday in Miami, some close to Bush said a Rubio endorsement ahead of Tuesday would be unlikely. Indeed, were Bush to back Rubio, his former ally from Florida, he probably would have done so by now and would not first require a meeting with his opponents. | Although Bush was scheduled to meet with Rubio, as well as Ted Cruz and John Kasich, on Thursday in Miami, some close to Bush said a Rubio endorsement ahead of Tuesday would be unlikely. Indeed, were Bush to back Rubio, his former ally from Florida, he probably would have done so by now and would not first require a meeting with his opponents. |
| But many of Florida’s senior Republicans remain confident in Rubio, albeit with some caveats. | But many of Florida’s senior Republicans remain confident in Rubio, albeit with some caveats. |
| Tomas Regalado, the mayor of the city of Miami, said he was “an optimist” and was relying on the voters of Miami-Dade County, the state’s most populous, to listen to “policies instead of insults” and pull Rubio through. | Tomas Regalado, the mayor of the city of Miami, said he was “an optimist” and was relying on the voters of Miami-Dade County, the state’s most populous, to listen to “policies instead of insults” and pull Rubio through. |
| “The county votes more,” he said. “If we can move the middle he can win Florida. But whatever is the case we are going to send a clear message that we don’t support people such as Donald Trump, that we support a mainstream America, that we support a conservative and that we support a person that is a part of the American dream.” | “The county votes more,” he said. “If we can move the middle he can win Florida. But whatever is the case we are going to send a clear message that we don’t support people such as Donald Trump, that we support a mainstream America, that we support a conservative and that we support a person that is a part of the American dream.” |
| Regalado acknowledged Rubio’s position in the polls but added: “I am always hopeful. I am an optimist. I’ve never lost an election and I’ve done eight. This one I still have a good feeling about.” | Regalado acknowledged Rubio’s position in the polls but added: “I am always hopeful. I am an optimist. I’ve never lost an election and I’ve done eight. This one I still have a good feeling about.” |
| Carlos Lopez-Cantera, the lieutenant governor of Florida, takes issue with those who suggest Rubio has conceded ground in the panhandle and northern areas of the state to his rivals. | Carlos Lopez-Cantera, the lieutenant governor of Florida, takes issue with those who suggest Rubio has conceded ground in the panhandle and northern areas of the state to his rivals. |
| “I spend my days traveling this state, I’ve put on five or 10 thousand miles a month driving Florida, and from what I’ve seen on the ground he has the support,” he said. | “I spend my days traveling this state, I’ve put on five or 10 thousand miles a month driving Florida, and from what I’ve seen on the ground he has the support,” he said. |
| “He’s the only one that has a very clear set of policies and plans for his first term. That’s important; people need to know what’s your plan. It can’t just be rhetoric and platitudes. Marco has a very specific set of policies. It’s a powerful message. Florida is Marco Rubio country.” | “He’s the only one that has a very clear set of policies and plans for his first term. That’s important; people need to know what’s your plan. It can’t just be rhetoric and platitudes. Marco has a very specific set of policies. It’s a powerful message. Florida is Marco Rubio country.” |
| Some have nonetheless criticized Rubio for building a late presence in his home state. | Some have nonetheless criticized Rubio for building a late presence in his home state. |
| His team opened its campaign headquarters in Rubio’s hometown of Miami only on 28 February, two days before Super Tuesday, followed by a slow roll-out of district offices elsewhere. His campaign’s Fort Myers office opened on Wednesday, less than a week before the primary, and could yet prove to be short-lived if things go badly. | His team opened its campaign headquarters in Rubio’s hometown of Miami only on 28 February, two days before Super Tuesday, followed by a slow roll-out of district offices elsewhere. His campaign’s Fort Myers office opened on Wednesday, less than a week before the primary, and could yet prove to be short-lived if things go badly. |
| But Miami-Dade commissioner Esteban Bovo, who like Rubio was born to Cuban exile parents, dismissed the issue. | But Miami-Dade commissioner Esteban Bovo, who like Rubio was born to Cuban exile parents, dismissed the issue. |
| “From a grassroots perspective, a lot of folks have been working the ground here in south Florida for a long, long time,” he said. “There’s been volunteers for six months working the phones and doing the groundwork to get people out and get people excited. Now we just need to get this on steroids and push it to the end.” | “From a grassroots perspective, a lot of folks have been working the ground here in south Florida for a long, long time,” he said. “There’s been volunteers for six months working the phones and doing the groundwork to get people out and get people excited. Now we just need to get this on steroids and push it to the end.” |
| Gina Sosa, treasurer of the Log Cabin Republicans of Miami, also defended Rubio’s operation, noting she had lost count of the hours on the phone to friends, relatives, and colleagues urging them to vote for Rubio, or at her precinct in early voting holding up Rubio placards. | Gina Sosa, treasurer of the Log Cabin Republicans of Miami, also defended Rubio’s operation, noting she had lost count of the hours on the phone to friends, relatives, and colleagues urging them to vote for Rubio, or at her precinct in early voting holding up Rubio placards. |
| “We’re in the 21st century. We have Uber, we have Lyft. Do they have offices? No they don’t,” she said. “Yes, maybe he was a little behind the game … but the grassroots, the people that count, have been knocking on doors long before any office opened.” | “We’re in the 21st century. We have Uber, we have Lyft. Do they have offices? No they don’t,” she said. “Yes, maybe he was a little behind the game … but the grassroots, the people that count, have been knocking on doors long before any office opened.” |
| But if certain Republican politicians in Florida remain blithely confident in Rubio carrying the state, the same could not be said of all party supporters. Alejandro Rojas, who voted for Mitt Romney in the 2012 election and was planning on supporting Rubio in the primary, said he has jumped ship – quite possibly from the entire party. | But if certain Republican politicians in Florida remain blithely confident in Rubio carrying the state, the same could not be said of all party supporters. Alejandro Rojas, who voted for Mitt Romney in the 2012 election and was planning on supporting Rubio in the primary, said he has jumped ship – quite possibly from the entire party. |
| “I lost it with Marco when he started on Trump’s hands and his tan,” said Rojas, a Miami-born carpenter whose parents are from Cuba. “I wanted it to be about the policy. Trump has nothing and Marco had him on every single issue, then you watch these debates and it’s a circus. It’s a clown show and the Republican party is tearing itself apart.” | “I lost it with Marco when he started on Trump’s hands and his tan,” said Rojas, a Miami-born carpenter whose parents are from Cuba. “I wanted it to be about the policy. Trump has nothing and Marco had him on every single issue, then you watch these debates and it’s a circus. It’s a clown show and the Republican party is tearing itself apart.” |
| The concern extended even to Rubio supporters who are remaining loyal. Mauricio Pons is chairman of FIU’s Young Republicans and was among the first in line when Rubio launched his campaign at Miami’s Freedom Tower last April. | The concern extended even to Rubio supporters who are remaining loyal. Mauricio Pons is chairman of FIU’s Young Republicans and was among the first in line when Rubio launched his campaign at Miami’s Freedom Tower last April. |
| “You can only fight fire with fire,” he said. “Rubio’s just trying to give Trump a taste of his own medicine, but I do think it has deterred and detracted people because they see the whole entire debacle being very childish and immature.” | “You can only fight fire with fire,” he said. “Rubio’s just trying to give Trump a taste of his own medicine, but I do think it has deterred and detracted people because they see the whole entire debacle being very childish and immature.” |
| Rubio on Wednesday said for the first time that he regretted his personal attacks on Trump. | Rubio on Wednesday said for the first time that he regretted his personal attacks on Trump. |
| “That’s not something I’m entirely proud of. My kids were embarrassed by it,” he said in a town hall hosted by MSNBC. “If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t.” | “That’s not something I’m entirely proud of. My kids were embarrassed by it,” he said in a town hall hosted by MSNBC. “If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t.” |
| Time will soon tell whether his repentance will be too little, too late. | Time will soon tell whether his repentance will be too little, too late. |