From the official release:
Club for Growth PAC today endorsed Marco Rubio in the 2010 U.S. Senate race in Florida.
“Marco Rubio is the real deal, one of the brightest young stars in American politics today, and a proven champion of economic liberty,” said Club President Chris Chocola. “He is a dynamic spokesman for the principles of limited government and economic freedom, and he will make a fantastic Senator.”
Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000-2008, and was elected to the Republican leadership as Majority Whip, Majority Leader, and finally, Speaker of the House. Rubio is an advocate of lower federal spending, tax relief and tax reform, union members’ right to a secret ballot, and market-driven energy and environmental solutions.
Rubio’s Republican primary opponent is Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who supported President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus, proposed a state “cap-and-trade” energy program, and this summer broke his pledge not to sign any state tax increases.
“Charlie Crist has repeatedly joined with big government liberals on major economic issues facing America today, from taxes to spending to cap-and-trade,” Chocola said. “He represents the wrong direction for our economy and our nation.”
“The Club for Growth PAC has spent months studying this race, and we have concluded that either Charlie Crist or Marco Rubio would be heavily favored to win next November against likely Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek,” Chocola said. “The only question now is what kind of Republican will Florida send to Washington next year: a pro-growth Republican with a record of fiscal conservatism or a big-government Republican with a record of tax increases?”
November 9th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Rubio is just like Mel Martinez?
Mel Martinez was very conservative with the glaring exception of advocating McCain-Kennedy’s amnesty.
If Rubio is going to support the same policies as Mel did, then we just have a repeat candidate. The only difference was that Mel Martinez was about a foot taller.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am
The CFG forgot to mention Good Time Charlie’s Citizens Property Insurance abomination.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Hmm, will this be the kiss of death for Rubio’s campaign? It would be a shame if CFG bring their special brand of failure to this race and get the dem elected.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Palin/Rubio ‘12 Unbeatable team, future of the GOP!
November 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Huckabee-Rubio 2012!
November 9th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I was just going to post that. Stellar record of success is something CFG does not have.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Palin/Rubio? Couple of kids, where’s the maturity on that ticket?
November 9th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
And OK I like Rubio, he says all the right things and looks like a sweet family. I think he’s the right guy to take down Crist, oh please oh please. Having said that, it bothers me he’s a career type politician, these ones that start out young and spend a quarter of a century in Washington D.C. turn out to be like McCain, Kennedy, Hatch,Gingrich types just all worn down by too much time in the D.C. sewer. I’d like it to be in vogue again for congress people to serve a max of 4 years. Maybe 6 if you have extraordinary strength of character.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Welcome aboard, CFG (albeit, a little late to the party).
Rubio! Rubio! Rubio!
November 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
another good thing about rubio is that he is not a homosexual in the closet who constantly votes against gay rights. Crist is larry craig part 2.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Rubio can beat Good time Charlie. The Party base is fed up with Crist, not because he is a moderate but because he is an egomaniac and a pure opportunist. This is the guy who ran in 06 as “Chain-gang Charlie” but one of the first things he did was given felons voting rights. He helped socialize our state’s property insurance industry, making it so one big storm will bankrupt us. Couple that with his going around the state legislature on issues (Seminole Casino gambling, a sugar-land deal, etc.) and the state GOP wants him out. Oh, and his buddy Jim Greer, the FL GOP Chairman is a freespending idiot. The Florida GOP will be better off without them.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
C’mon, Mitt! We’re waiting for you next…
Do the right thing!
Endorse Rubio N O W
November 9th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
“another good thing about rubio is that he is not a homosexual in the closet who constantly votes against gay rights. Crist is larry craig part 2.”
I don’t know…Marco Rubio does have impeccable hair.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Mitt will endorse Rubio at a time that he most needs it…to put him over the top…just watch!
November 9th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
“Mitt will endorse Rubio at a time that he most needs it…to put him over the top…just watch!” Yeah, October 29th, 2010 or so. If Mr. Rubio become Senator by a few votes or so, it was Mr. Romney who put him over the top. If Mr. Rubio loses by a few votes, well at least Mr. Romney did not get mixed up earlier with all these Conservative childish people who know nothing about Florida (haha.) Yes timing is everything; it allows one to either take credit or wash one’s hands.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Just a reminder to everyone. Endorsements for both candidates are fine, but it is the people of Florida who are going to be making this decision, not Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, the Club for Growth, or anyone else. I’m voting for Rubio, but he should learn from the NY-23 fiasco that you have to address local issues as well as national issues if you want to win.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
#16,
YES! That’s EXACTLY right. Sarah Palin and Count Chocula aren’t at all ahead of the curve when it comes to backing candidates that can win. And it’s none of their business anyway.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
WOW, it has been a while since I did not disagree with you Jonathan; yes, it the end you shall decide, not the rest of us.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I just have a sneaky suspicion this one is going to be REALLY messy.
We already have one ultra-lib black guy as president. We don’t need Meeks to be an Obama junior.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Rubio is fighting an uphill battle vs. Criss. He needs as much early support as possible.
Get off the fence, folks. : )
November 9th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Sorry, typed too fast: C r i s T ; )
November 9th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
#19:
Don’t worry, Meeks can’t win. An ultra-liberal minority from Miami won’t win statewide in Florida. To win, Dem’s usually have to do ok in the Panhandle among the conservative, cracker Dixiecrats. Meek can’t. Otherwise, they have to crank up minority turnout. Without Obama, they won’t. The FL Democrats are much more interested in the Governor’s race anyways. They have a pretty decent (50-50) chance of winning it with Alex Sink as their nominee. Meek has never had a tough race in his life; he basically inherited his seat from his mom. He can’t win, and won’t win.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Have you ever noticed:
When an outsider endorses a candidate someone doesn’t like, they scream “It’s none of your business. BUTT OUT!”
When an outsider endorses a candidate someone likes, they whimper, “Why doesn’t everybody else endorse him?”
Human nature is fun to watch.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
mark,
No doubt that is true to a point. I would rather see Rubio win. That’s a fact. But even MORE than that – I just want to make sure we hold the senate seat.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
“Mitt will endorse Rubio at a time that he most needs it…to put him over the top…just watch!”
A time that who most needs it?
Rumbio or Romney?
November 9th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Jonathan,
Right. I’m continually amazed by people who think the primary actually matters for holding this senate seat. Barack Obama, who ran in a year where Democrats were +5-6 points nationwide, and who himself was +7 nationwide, won Florida by 2%. The idea that Kendrik Meek, a Democrat from a majority black district, who hasn’t faced a competitive race in his life, could win that seat against EITHER Crist or Rubio, in what is bound to be a 10 point nationwide shift from 2008, is just too absurd to contemplate. Rubio will win the seat by double digits. Crist might even win by double digits, though I suspect his popularity statewide will be below 50% at that point.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
What about McCollum vs. Sink? Can McCollum pull it out? My sense is that it’s 50/50. The reason I ask is because I really want to get rid of that nutjob Alan Grayson. If he wins reelection (hopefully he won’t – but if he does…) it would be really great to be able redistrict him out in 2012 – and it’s pretty clear that the state legislature will stay in Republican hands. That Grayson guy irritates the crap out of me.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Matthew,
“Right. I’m continually amazed by people who think the primary actually matters for holding this senate seat.”
Which makes the Cornyn and Co.’s premature endorsement even more curious, and stupid. The RNC (or whatever wing of the official party apparatus it was) should stay neutral unless one candidate is absolutely scandalous (like David Duke back in the day in LA).
November 9th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I want Rubio to win, but I hate HATE Club for Growth.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
How much power do the legislature and governor have in FL redistricing, respectively?
November 9th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
#26:
Absolutely. Florida is purple in national elections, but at the state and local level, we are deep red. We’ve held the Governorship since 1998, we control all but one of the Cabinet seats (Sink is the state CFO), we have a 2-1 advantage in the legislature, the majority of the U.S. House seats, and the two of the biggest cities (Miami and Jacksonville) have Republican mayors or mayor-elects. The race for the Senate seat is the race for the Republican nomination.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
MWS,
Not to defend Cornyn – but unless I am mistaken, it was far from clear that Meeks would be the best the Dems could do. And remember that Obama’s popularity was much higher in the spring. I was scared to death that a radical president with 60 percent approval was going to get two more seats from PA and FL from the GOP. That was a major reason why I didn’t want the hard right to kick Specter. Thank God Obama’s numbers are considerably lower now.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Or, to put it more starkly, Florida was FOUR points redder than Virgina in 2008. Imagine Bob McDonnell running against, not an incompetent but relatively moderate Creigh Deeds, but an incompetent McAulliffe…but without the machine or institutional support. He’d have won by 30 points, and Rubio is not as conservative as McDonnell and a helluva lot more charismatic.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
MWS,
I would assume a lot of power. The map drawn in 2002 was VERY favorable to the GOP.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Depending on where he lives, I would think it would be tough to eliminate Grayson’s district when Florida will probably be adding 2-3 seats. But maybe they can draw him in with a stronger Democrat. The Dems would howl like crazy though.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
35,
It can be done. He lives surrounded by a ton of Republican votes.
As for the Dems, Screw ‘em. They’re going to do the same thing to us in California.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
#30:
There is an initiative that may be on the ballot in 2010 to put a “nonpartisan commission” in charge of redistricting. If that fails (it needs 60%), then the Florida Legislature has the job.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Jonathan,
Yup. I noted this before, though I can’t find the data right now, but in those two horrendous elections- 2006 and 2008- when every state was losing Republicans in droves, Florida Republicans lost exactly ONE seat in both houses. Florida may not be the reddest state in the country, but it has the healthiest GOP and it would take a disaster of unheard of magnitudes for them to lose that seat to Kendrick Meek in a heavily GOP year.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
#27 “That Grayson guy irritates the crap out of me.”
Tell me about it! I have the distinct displeasure of being in his district. I’m telling you, if the GOP doesn’t pull a NY-23, I fully expect him to lose in 2010. I’d be tempted to run myself if (A) I was a Republican, (B) I had ANY desire to be in the sewer known as DC, (C) I had the money to survive going a year plus without an income, and (D) I had any name recognition in the district. Those are kind of biggies for me, and I’m not really a good public speaker, either.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
FL legislature is almost 2/3rds Republican, far more Republican than TX. They can do a lot of damage to the Dems when it comes to redistricting.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I have a tough time seeing how something like that passes with 60 percent. Especially next year when the GOP is going to be highly motivated and they know it will cause them to lose power.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
#39,
Why hasn’t the local party found a candidate yet? Seriously NO ONE is amped in that district to take that guy on?
November 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
#36:
We don’t need to carve up FL-8. Grayson’s 2008 win was a fluke. He ran against a very corrupt, very unpopular incumbent (Ric Keller). The same with Suzanne Kosmas in FL-24. Tom Feeney was a corrupt, do-nothing idiot. Even I voted against him and for Kosmas. we can take back both seats in 2010.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Which is why Florida is EXACTLY the place to take this fight for a more conservative GOP. No doubt the grassroots is going to waste their time trying to get Chuck Devore to lose epically to Barbara Boxer, but we have an opportunity to focus on Florida like a laser-beam and move the GOP meaningfully to the right, without turning the asylum over to the lunatics. I don’t think there are any especially coherent arguments for Crist at this point.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
“I don’t think there are any especially coherent arguments for Crist at this point.”
Nice tan. Great hair.
Maybe he could get a job hosting Family Fued?
November 9th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
#42:
Grayson is a very wealthy ambulence chaser. He bought the Dem nomination in 08 and used Obama’s coattails and Keller’s incompetence to win. If we are going to use redistricting, then we’d put some of the Democrats in Corrine Brown’s FL-3, but it that district is crazy looking anyways (it snakes its way from Jacksonville to Orlando to get a black majority district).
November 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
MWS,
I wish he’d decided to keep his job hosting Who’s State is it Anyway? Really, I have very little doubt that both McCollum and Rubio will triumph, but I’m going to be mildly sad to see a politician of Crist’s caliber just disappear. When he’s for us, he’s a force. It’s hard to imagine McCollum being that.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
The older Republicans love Crist here – he will not lose to Rubio short of a scandal.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I’ve been a political junkie since about 1996 and the only thing I really remember about McCollum is that he was gung ho during Clinton’s impeachment.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
#42 Adam, I can’t really explain it. Were I in political circles, I’d be salivating at the chance to run ads highlighting his time on the floor of the House. Seriously, the best argument he has against the Republican plan is to say it wants people to “Die quickly?” It’s almost too easy to pick this guy off!
November 9th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Martha & The Vandellas – Dancing In The Street (NEW) Lyrics
Callin’ out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
RUBIO is here and the time is right
For dancin’ in the streets
They’re dancin’ in MIAMI
Next in JACKSONVILLE
All over FLORIDA
What we need is music, sweet music
There’ll be music everywhere
There’ll be swingin’, BASS GUITAR
playin’ and VOTERS swayin’
And dancin’ in the streets !!!
November 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
#47:
McCollum isn’t a great politician, but he is something Crist will never be; competent. McCollum has been a very good Attorney General and was a good Congressman. When he wins, he’ll be a good, unexciting Governor. Just another note; Alex Sink is just as boring on the stump as McCollum. There really isn’t much of a charisma factor in the Governor’s race.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
MWS, I hope you noted in my last newsletter where I said I’m not currently considering running against Rep Grayson, but God will lead the way.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
#53,
Careful with that. Palin is liable to endorse you – and that will ENSURE Grayson’s reelection
November 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Richard,
I did note that.
Speaking of notes, I also lost 5 C-notes on your Iowa-Northwestern “Can’t Miss Pick.”
November 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Richard,
Maybe in future newsletters, you can spend less time discerning God’s will for your political future, and more time coming up with a stinkin’ winning pick or lotto number…….
November 9th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
#54 Am I really THAT bad?
#55 Didn’t they tell you it would be at least 6-8 weeks before your new subscription started, but we’d still be sending you copies of next year’s picks?
November 9th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Why worry about how you spelled Crist? His dad changed it from Christodoulos.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Richard,
In 6-8 the college football season will be over!
And if your lotto numbers don’t work out soon, I won’t be able to afford your newsletter.
I’m even starting to doubt that God speaks to you through your HAM radio, or that you really have insider information on the next big move in gold.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
#59 “In 6-8 the college football season will be over!”
Ah, but the NFL playoffs will be right around the corner!
As for the lotto, I’ve already explained to you why they aren’t working out. Those lotto numbers won’t work until next year.
Finally, you’re telling me you are lacking faith now? That’s truly unfortunate, because then I’ll have to switch you over to the non-believer newsletter instead. You may also be in violation of subclause 7.12, Section Q, paragraph 5, which would nullify your newsletter agreement, with a legally-binding requirement to pay your subscription in full immediately, but discontinue delivery. I’m pretty sure I just misunderstood what you’re trying to tell me, however, so I’ll let it slide this time…
November 9th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Richard,
I never got a copy of the contract because you were charging an extra $30 for it.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Well, I charge $30 for it because it’s about half the size of PelosiCare. When you factor in paying someone to print a copy off in your area and drop it off (since shipping it would be too expensive), I’m losing money on it! Besides, you checked the box that said “Yes, I’ve read and understand the terms and conditions of my contract,” so I don’t know how much more I can help you with this.
November 9th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Richard,
Everybody checks that box. You remind me of my customer service reps at my local gas company.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Crap, there goes a promising candidate. CFG just endorsed him
“I don’t think there are any especially coherent arguments for Crist at this point.”
As definitely not a conservative purist, I totally agree with this. Moderates who are leaders and issues-oriented are great. Crist is not one of those, as his record attests. Rubio on the other hand excels. The choice is obvious in Florida.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Lamontagne to take on Ayotte in N.H. primary
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/67059-lamontagne-to-take-on-ayotte-in-nh-primary