We’ll get to Rubio’s substantial mood swing in a moment, but first I’ll let him explain himself. Here he is with Fox News’ Chris Wallace, via Free Beacon:
The Rubia campaign also released quite a long statement explaining the announcement. After acknowledging the major change, predicting that opponents would attack him for it, and repeating his well known frustrations serving in the Senate, the Florida freshman outlined his reasons for deciding to seek a second term:
Control of the Senate may hinge on the Florida race. That means the future of the Supreme Court will be determined by a seat in the Florida Senate. That means the future of the disastrous Iran nuclear deal will be determined by a seat in the Florida Senate. That means the direction of our country’s fiscal and economic policy will be determined by that seat in the Senate…Regardless of who is elected president, there are reasons to worry. With Hillary Clinton, we would have had another four years of the same failed economic policies that left us with economic stagnation. We would have had another four years of the same failed foreign policies that allowed radical Islam to spread and terrorists to be released from Guantanamo. And worse, if Clinton were president and her party took control of Congress, she would govern without congressional oversight or restraint. It would be a repeat of the early years of this administration, when we got Obamacare, a failed stimulus package, and record debt. The prospect of a Trump presidency also worries me. It is no secret that I have significant differences with Donald Trump. His positions on many key issues are still unknown. And some of his statements, especially on women and minorities, I find not only offensive but unacceptable. If he is elected, we will need senators who are willing to support him and move in the right direction, and if necessary, oppose him. I proved that I was ready to do both.
Regardless of who wins the White House, we need a mighty group of principled, persuasive leaders in Congress who will not only promote constrained government, free enterprise, and a mighty national defense, but also explain to the American people how it will improve their lives and the lives of their families. Ultimately, I have changed my mind about this race because on this front and in this fight, I believe I have something to offer. Ultimately, it was a decision made not in Washington, but at home in West Miami over Father’s Day weekend with my wife and four children. There were two paths before us. One was more comfortable and perhaps politically wiser. But after much thought and prayer, we collectively decided to continue in public service.; to continue on a path that gives us the opportunity to make positive changes during this critical and uncertain time for our nation.
Consider the claims that (a) control of the Senate could come down to Florida and (b) Rubio would have been smarter to wait it out. In the first case, it’s quite possible that a Republican majority in the upper chamber could hinge on the Florida runoffs, where Democrats had a good chance of winning an open seat. The 2016 Senate map. it’s a challenge for Republicans, who are defending much more competitive seats than Democrats. The last questionnaire able he showed that Rubio is in a much better position to hold on to his job as an incumbent than anyone else in the Republican Party – several of whom have already done so I got a note and conceded. A fresh Quinnipiac poll shows Rubio leading two potential Democratic rivals by high single digits ( same data set (It shows Pat Toomey leading fairly comfortably in Pennsylvania, and Rob Portman tied in Ohio.) The former presidential candidate suggests he didn’t consult public opinion polls very closely when weighing this decision. Of course he did. While Rubio’s decision may have been finalized “back home in West Miami,” it blossomed in the Beltway. I’ve spoken to several top Senate sources in recent weeks, all of whom confirmed that the extremely reluctant Rubio has been subjected to an intense and sustained pressure campaign to reconsider his decision not to seek a second term. Even a prominent former opponent has been drawn into the effort; I’m told this tweet from slow May did not appear organically or accidentally:
Poll data shows that @marcorubio is doing best in keeping his Senate seat in Florida. It’s essential to keep the MAJORITY. Run Marco!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2016
And what about Rubio’s statement that sticking with his original decision would have been more convenient and “probably smarter” politically? There’s no doubt that Rubio could land a lucrative private-sector position after his term ends, and it stands to reason that a well-paid “normal” job probably sounds pretty appealing to someone who just spent the better part of a year competing in a grueling presidential cycle — and who, as we know, is diseased of the Senate. It’s also true that Rubio’s move comes with obvious political risks. The aforementioned Q poll measured eight point lead for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the Sunshine State, meaning Rubio is ahead of the man who will be at the top of the ticket by double digits. Let’s assume that this finding is more or less realistic. Is it sustainable? If Trump is decisively defeated in Florida (a a clear possibility(but it is not certain) Rubio will need Very splitting tickets to save his seat. Meanwhile, Democrats said they pull out all the aces from your sleeve defeat Rubio, whose political career they want to kill. If Trump pulls up
does sink Rubio, his political future will be seriously crippled, if not dead. He’ll have an embarrassing presidential primary crushing defeat in his home state, changed his mind and ran for the Senate again, and then lost that race, too. He was rejected by Florida Republican voters and the electorate in subsequent races. I’m not sure that even a guy as talented as Marco Rubio could overcome that double whammy. On the other hand, if Rubio wins, his star will be restored and he will once again secure a prominent place in the “future of the party” upper echelon. Let’s be forthright: If Rubio wants to run for president again—and I think he does—that would be a much stronger position than, for example, trying to mount another campaign as a former one-term senator who took third place in an unsuccessful bid for the White House before quickly departing public life. In other words, it is no exaggeration to say that if Rubio’s loftier ambitions remain intact, today’s announcement is not exactly a spotless gesture of selfless party loyalty and commitment to public service. Either way, Rubio has no time to waste and is jumping in swing:
In discussing the Grayson case, Rubio pointed to a House investigation into the ethics of a hedge fund he ran and suggested the Orlando congressman was corrupt.Alan Grayson, if elected, would likely be impeached within his first few years in office,” Rubio said. “He has huge ethical problems.” As for Murphy, Rubio dismissed him as a spoiled affluent kid. “Patrick Murphy is someone who is not prepared to be a U.S. senator, given the scale of what we’re facing right now,” Rubio said.He has no significant achievements in his entire life. He got everything from the moment he was born: first job, second job. And now his family and father want to buy him a seat in the Senate.”
I’ll leave you with two video clips about Rubio’s potential opponents (including a amusing one Town hall (flashback) followed by an endorsement from a former rival who is eager to support his friend — but no too ecstatic — and which also seems have an eye in 2020 and beyond:
Ted Cruz on Marco Rubio: ‘I’m ecstatic to support him in his re-election bid.’ https://t.co/phHsL3TecX
— Adam Wollner (@AdamWollner) June 22, 2016
