Audio: Rush Limbaugh Likes Marco Rubio

This audio speaks for itself. Rush obviously is leaning towards Rubio.

Huckabee: Marco Rubio could be a Presidential Contender some day

During an interview with Katie Couric, former Gov. Mike Huckabee mentions Marco Rubio as an "up-and-coming" conservative and says that he may be a contender for the  presidency some day. The remark comes just after the 1:30 mark of the video.

I say, "Huck! Let's get him elected Senator first." He is well on his way.... :)



Watch CBS News Videos Online

Crist Blasts fellow Republicans while citing Reagans 11th Commandment

 Somehow Charlie Crist manages to insult the base of the Florida Republican Party and Ronald Reagan during the same interview. All the while reinforcing the support of his opponent Marco Rubio.

Crist: "Campaigns thank God are an educational opportunity. During the course of the next nine months or so we will strive to lay out a very good education...I believe in Reagan's 11th Commandment- thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican - but I also think you need to be honest and truthful and make sure that before people go to the ballot box they have a good opportunity to be well-informed."

Notice that Crist said "...we will strive to lay out a very good education...(for voters).Here is what Marco Rubio thinks abouth the fact that Crist thinks voters are stupid and unimformed.

CRIST:"There are a lot of Republicans that don't have the inclination to go to executive committee meetings,'' he said.

That is an obvious reference to the FACT that he has lost 14 straw polls in a row by HUGE margins.

Crist:"There is wide swath of republican voters out there that don't necessarily listen to cable tv all the time."

That is an obvious swipe at Fox news and the Tea Party movement.
Want proof that Charlie does not get it yet? You have it right in front of you in his own words.

Crist does not seem to understand that grassroots supporters and committee members are Republicans too. It's easy for him to ignore that because he is NOT a Republican.  He just does NOT get it.

You Sir are a RINO!!!

Source: The Buzz

UPDATE: Today the Rubio campaign has responded to Crist's attack on republicans/conservatives.

RUBIO CAMPAIGN STATEMENT

“Charlie Crist is demonstrating an alarming contempt for the very Republican voters whose support he seeks. Governor Crist is clearly frustrated about his self-made credibility crisis and his endorsement of a stimulus policy that has failed to create the jobs he promised, but these are not acceptable excuses for him to lash out at Republicans. Charlie Crist is out of touch with Republicans who believe in less spending and lower taxes, but he’s increasingly in sync with Democrats who dismiss Republicans as angry Americans.” – Rubio campaign spokesman Alex Burgos

Video: Chris Chocola on FNS Discusses Florida Senate Race

In the FSN "Power Player of the Week" segment, Chris Wallace talks to Club for Growth Pres. Chris Chocala about the reasons for the Clubs support in certain elections for the upcoming election season. The Florida senate race between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist is highlighted briefly.

Marco Rubio Cuts Crist lead to 10 Points

It's official! Marco Rubio is a viable and strong conservative candidate for the US senate race in Florida.  Crist now leads by only 10 points. A 46 point negative differential for Crist since January. That is a HUGE number in what is becoming a close race with another 9 months to go.

Rubio has consistently gained ground against his moderate rival Charlie Crist.

Without a doubt,  this race is shaping up to be a contest between the "GOP Establishment" and conservative base. So far the base is not backing down.

Rubio has defeated Charlie Crist 14 to 0 in straw polls held throughout the state this year.

How long will it be before he beats Crist in statewide polls?

UPDATE:
Hotair.com weighs in. Shock poll: Rubio within 10 points of Crist in Florida

Here is why Charlie Crist Refuses to Debate Marco Rubio

Once again current Florida Governor Charlie Crist refuses Marco Rubio's invitation for debates.

Crist is obviously afraid to confront either Rubio or the electorate with his positions on key issues?
Why you ask? Because he does not know himself what he believes in. Is THIS who we need as the next senator of the Great State of Florida. I think not...

Check it out for yourself:

Rubio Calls Crist's Bluff-Debate Me Then!

Marco Rubio wasted no time in "calling-out" Charlie Crist after Crist vowed to fight back against Rubio's successful and accurate attempts to paint him as a RINO.

Rubio's answer to Crist's promise to fight back? DEBATE ME!

Very smart on Rubio's part. Here is the press release issued by the Rubio camp:

“Let the buyer beware of anything Charlie Crist is selling. If Governor Crist can’t be honest about his own record of endorsing the stimulus, he shouldn’t be trusted to talk about other people’s records truthfully and accurately. While his history of running false, misleading and negative campaigns says otherwise, we nonetheless hope this signals a new phase in this campaign where Governor Crist will actually step up and directly engage Marco Rubio in a series of debates. Floridians deserve better than candidates hiding behind ‘anonymous’ websites and lobbyist hatchet men.” ---Alex Burgos

UPDATE!
Rubio campaign sends a letter and direct challenge to Crist to debate the issues.

Eric Eikenberg

Campaign Manager
Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate
P.O. Box 1694
Tallahassee, FL 32302

Dear Eric:
As you are probably aware, on June 22 of this year, Marco Rubio invited Governor Crist to participate in a series of at least 10 U.S. Senate debates, beginning this fall. Organized by GOP organizations in each of Florida’s media markets, these unprecedented debates would cover a full range of state and national issues, while showcasing Florida as a national leader in promoting the very best political discourse the Republican Party has to offer.

At that time, Marco acknowledged the differences that exist between him and Governor Crist on issues like wasteful stimulus spending that has failed to create jobs, cap-and-trade, property tax reform, judicial appointments, property insurance and a struggling Florida economy that has seen unemployment rise to a 34-year high. Marco expressed his belief that several debates would help bring these and other differences to light.

Unfortunately, Governor Crist has shown no interest in debating Marco thus far.

Instead, the media has widely reported on behind-the-scenes maneuvering by your campaign to attack Marco and his record. Today, the National Journal’s On Call reports that, “FL Gov. Charlie Crist will step up his direct engagements with his opponent. … Crist will attack former FL House Speaker Marco Rubio.”

Marco welcomes the challenge and invites Governor Crist to reconsider his reluctance to directly engage in face-to-face debates. In light of Governor Crist’s “governing” commitments, we would be happy to work with you to formalize a debate schedule that will help our campaigns rise above the typical 30-second commercials, slick slogans and bumper stickers that define too many of our country’s political contests.

For example, we hope you will consider the December 17 debate being sponsored by the Biscayne Bay Young Republicans and the FIU College Republicans, which will be moderated by Michael Putney from Miami’s WPLG-TV. There is also a January debate sponsored by the Tampa Republican Club, which will be moderated by the St. Petersburg Times’ political editor Adam Smith.

I look forward to your reply and the contest ahead.
Respectfully,
Pat Shortridge
Senior Advisor
Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate

When will Charlie Crist Quit his Senate Race

There is a strange lack of miscues on the part of  the Crist campaign over the past week and an equally strange lack of  valid criticism  of Crist from the Rubio campaign.

Something is up!! We just dont know what it is yet...

As of today, I think Crist will quit his senate bid and claim that he is doing it for the "good of the party" and will run for Gov again. (Which he will win)

Crist has lost 14 state straw polls in a row (by huge margins) and Marco Rubio has gained the support of the base.

Rubio agreed to the invitation to be the keynote speaker of CPAC in Feb.

Crist hasn't been asked to speak, though he did get some attention at last year's convention that came just a couple weeks after the governor embraced President Barack Obama and his stimulus package during a Florida rally. People booed the mention of Crist's name, and in a 10-person straw poll of potential presidential candidates, he came in dead last.

Marco Rubio has received some major endorsements from the core of the conservative movement.
Club for Growth
CPAC
Jim DeMint
Mike Huckabee
Laura Ingraham
Jeb Bush Jr.
Dick Armey
Mark Levin
George Will
Karl Rove


With the growing support for Marco Rubio and falling poll numbers for Charlie Crist, it is just a matter of time before Crist decides that he should remain as Governor and not risk losing power all together. After all, he is a "pragmatist" (RINO).

Crist's run for senate is hurting the GOP establishment in Florida. I think he may finally  get it!

As a political junky, I can smell the failure that the Crist camp has tried to endure. They are floundering. I expect a huge announcement within the next 10 days if not sooner. I also expect Crist to endorse Rubio which will be followed by an endorsement of Rubio by Former Governor Jeb Bush. ( I can dream can't I?)

Note: Along with the support of the base, Rubio will enjoy a huge increase in contributions from the Club for Growth and CPAC endorsements.

Update 9:00pm--Just a thought. Smells like negotiations between Rubio and the Crist camp are going on...
The Rubio campaign's charlieandobama site has been down since the day after it was launched. That is almost when both campaigns started to "make nice.  Greer is getting a lot of heat along with the other "establishment" types in Florida. Charlie the "pragmatist" may be playing the role of a Lindsey Graham just to save his own bacon and run for Gov...(just a thought)

UPDATE: 11-17-09

With state Republican leaders gathering for a closed-door meeting this week – that could include a few calls for Chairman Jim Greer’s ouster -- a maverick county chairman weighed in Tuesday with a list of what he called GOP problems, and potential solutions...

...Steele said the standard would ease bitterness flooding through the GOP, spawned by the Charlie Crist-Marco Rubio U.S. Senate race ...

Now does any of this sound anything like what I posted above? It should....

Marco Rubio to be Keynote Speaker at CPAC 2010 Conference

Developing....

CPAC News tweets the following:
We've just announced that we've invited Marco Rubio to be our #cpac10 keynote speaker.

CPAC has just announced that Marco Rubio has accepted the invitation and WILL be the keynote speaker for CPAC 2010..

That is Fantastic!!!

UPDATE:
From TPM:

A Star is Born

...It's official: Marco Rubio is The Next Big Thing for conservatives. Earlier today, Lisa De Pasquale, the director of the Conservative Political Action Conference, announced that Rubio will be the keynote speaker for next year's CPAC conference.


It's hard to overstate the importance of a CPAC appearance for a conservative politician. The annual conference draws thousands of right-wing activists and media outlets, offering the keynote speaker a national platform to address the Republican party's conservative base..."


"...With the CPAC announcement, Rubio just became one of the most prominent conservatives in the country.

Video: 30 Minutes with Marco Rubio on WSRE

If you want to find out a little more about Marco Rubio and his positions on key issues, you need to spend the time to watch this interview by Jeff Weeks of  WSRE.

Taxes
War on Terror
Energy independence
And many more including a little football talk at the end.

Thirteen Straw Polls in a Row for Marco Rubio

Rubio in front of Crist AGAIN!

From The Buzz
Okaloosa straw poll goes for Rubio, McCollum, Putnam:

Chalk up another straw poll victory for Marco Rubio. He garnered 86 votes to Gov. Charlie Crist's 4 votes during a straw poll today hosted by the Okaloosa Republican Exec Committee.

This makes 13 in a row by huge margins for Marco Rubio. To call it a trend would be an understatement. It is a movement at this point.

Conservatives are rallying around Marco Rubio in huge numbers. That, combined with the fact that Independents are moving towards the Right is a positive for Rubio and conservatism.
Gollop:

Independents Inch to the Right


Changes among political independents appear to be the main reason the percentage of conservatives has increased nationally over the past year: the 35% of independents describing their views as conservative in 2009 is up from 29% in 2008. By contrast, among Republicans and Democrats, the percentage who are "conservative" has increased by one point each.

There are still 9 months left until the primary election in August. A few key endorsents could put Rubio over the top and I believe that will happen.

Video: BBC America Profiles Marco Rubio

Here is the video of BBC America following conservative Florida senatorial candidate Marco Rubio.The title sort of jumps out at you in a good way:

BBC America: Marco Rubio, The Great Right Hope

Crist voted FOR the stimulus before he voted AGAINST It

From National Journal

Gov. Charlie Crist (R) appeared via satellite on the "Situation Room" 11/4 p.m.

Crist, on whether he regrets endorsing the economic stimulus package: "I didn't endorse it. I didn't even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians. ... Frankly, I kind of look at it like Florida taxpayers' dollars coming back to the state to benefit them. ... We've go to fight for Florida first. That's all we did here."

Crist, on the picture of himself and Pres. Obama hugging that Ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio's (R) has on his website: "I think it's important to understand where we were at that time. That was back in February, less than a month after the president was sworn into office, the first time he visits our state. And I was pragmatic, I think, about what we needed to do. Everybody knew the bill was going to pass. I, like all other Republican governors, utilized that money for the benefit of the people in my state. And that's what a pragmatic conservative does. ... And I think it's important to understand that you need to fight for jobs, you need to fight for the economy, do what you think is right for the people."

This is one of those stories that just makes you wonder how stupid politicians think the people are. Hey Charlie!!!!! Ever hear of youtube????

You not only endorsed it, you praised it!!!! You said it is important to pass the stimulus package ... in a bipartisan way..




And just as expected, Marco Rubio responds quickly with his own version of the events. Classic just Classic.



UPDATE: Even Beltway Bob at the Whitehouse knows Crist supported the Stimulus Bill:

NRSC Dumps Crist for Now

The NRSC  dumps Florida senatorial candidate Charlie Crist until after the primary?

It seems that the NRSC can not seem to make up it's mind about the Florida senatorial race between current Gov. Charlie Crist and his challenger conservative republican Marco Rubio.

On May 7th, 2009 NRSC Chairman Cornyn told the Politico:

“All the signals I’ve been getting is that he probably will [get into the race], but I don’t want to make any announcements for him, because he’s the one who will ultimately decide whether to pull the trigger or not,” said Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.


But Cornyn added that he will not intervene in a contested primary, in which Crist would be facing former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio. Rubio, a conservative Republican, announced his candidacy Tuesday and has been critical of Crist for supporting President Barack Obama’s stimulus proposal.

That turned out to be a flat out lie. Five days later the NRSC endorsed Crist even though Rubio was already in the race for senate.

National Republican Senatorial Committee will be endorsing Crist, according to a senior Hill operative, marking the first time it has taken sides (for a non-incumbent) in a competitive GOP primary this election cycle.


NRSC chairman John Cornyn made the endorsement official this morning, casting Crist as the most electable candidate to hold the seat for the GOP.

"While I believe Marco Rubio has a very bright future within the Republican Party, Charlie Crist is the best candidate in 2010 to ensure that we maintain the checks and balances that Floridians deserve in the United States Senate," Cornyn said in a statement.

Today the Politico reports that the NRSC will not give Crist any money until after the Primary.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Tex.) says he won't channel cash into any primary pitting Republican vs. Republican -- including the heated Florida Senate primary between Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist.


"As far as what's happening in specifically Florida -- we made a decision to endorse Gov. Crist at his request. But we'e really not involved in the primary," Cornyn told Manu. "That's up to the voters in Florida."

When he asked Cornyn, "But you are at least raising and spending money for Crist?" Cornyn shot back --

"No, we won't be doing any of that until after the nomination. Our job is to elect Republicans so voters in Florida will have a chance to sort that out."

It would seem that NRSC has learned a lesson or two from the Tea Party  people and last nights elections in NY,NJ, and Va.

BTW- I did not know that you could request an endorsement from the NRSC...

Update 10:15 pm- 
I just read this quote from Cornyn:

Cornyn said the NRSC is only endorsing in races where — like in Crist’s case — the candidate specifically requests its stamp of approval. He said that — notwithstanding any endorsements — his group would even offer advice on hiring and strategy to GOP challengers, like Rubio, who haven’t been endorsed.

Does this mean that if Rubio "asks" for an endorsement from the NRSC that he would actually get it?

If I were the Rubio campaign I would request an endorsement and see what actually happens.

Rubio Campaign to Launch most Powerful Fundraising site in Fl History.

The Rubio campaign intends to launch a new fundraising site that they describe as the "MOST POWERFUL ONLINE FUNDRAISING SITE IN FLORIDA HISTORY"

Developing! Here is the press release:

Miami, FL – Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate today announced its plan to launch what will be the most powerful online fundraising website in Florida’s political history. The site will go live on Tuesday, November 3 to coincide with elections across the country, including the hotly contested special election in New York’s 23rd congressional district.


“A major part of our fundraising success has been and will continue to be from online donors,” said Rubio campaign spokesman Alex Burgos. “This new site will help us continue expanding our online fundraising network in ways that were unimaginable just a year ago.”


Additonal details to follow

George Will: Rubio WILL Win 2010 Fl Senate Primary

On "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos, conservative writer and commentator George Will said of Florida's conservative senatorial candidate  Marco Rubio, "ABSOLUTELY, HE WILL WIN GOINGAWAY."


He also said that Independents are moving to the right in droves.




This follows a story written by Rubio for the National Review in regard to the NY23 race. It's easy  to understand that Rubio gets it and that he has continued to stick to his message of "conservative principles". It seems to be working.

Here is what Rubio wrote:

Today's developments in New York's 23rd Congressional District should send an encouraging message to conservatives everywhere. It is not only right and necessary to stand up for our principles, it is also an appealing strategy to Americans yearning for less government and more fiscal restraint in Washington.


While there are still four grueling days of work left, it is clear candidates willing to stand up for conservative beliefs will not face a lonely journey on the campaign trail.

For conservatives who still don't believe we can be true to our principles and win elections, I hope NY-23 serves as a wake-up call. It's time for them to join their fellow Republicans on the front lines to deliver a victory on Tuesday.