Guest Author
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio announced his campaign for president Monday, and I’m terrified that he’s actually going to get elected.
Rubio’s still polling in single digits. He’s young and relatively unknown. He has been on the “incorrect” side of some key political issues. He shouldn’t even be running, though: It’s Jeb Bush’s turn. He can’t possibly win the Republican nomination, let alone the presidency.
Except he can. He has the proven playbook to do it.
In 2010, he defied party leaders and ran for the Senate against one of the most popular Republicans in the country: Charlie Crist. Early polls indicated that Rubio had less than no chance. After Rubio’s surprising rise to the top of the polls, Crist left the Republican Party and continued the Senate campaign as an independent. Not only did Rubio defeat Crist, but that once Republican governor is now a Democrat.
Having worked on Crist’s independent Senate campaign against Rubio, I have first hand knowledge of Rubio’s political prowess.
I know better than to underestimate him.
I watched Rubio’s announcement Monday, not because I’m excited by his candidacy, but because my political background wouldn’t let me ignore it. Rubio nailed it. The staging of the event was pitch perfect, and the messaging was powerful. I’m predisposed to despising Senator Rubio, and I was inspired by his announcement today. That’s scary.
I wouldn’t be so scared by this campaign, if I didn’t know Marco Rubio the candidate so well. He’s a formidable candidate. He is one of the most disciplined politicians I’ve ever encountered. He thrives on being underestimated. He surrounds himself with talented people who are as committed as he is to sticking to their strategy. His speeches are well written, and Rubio never goes off script. He is a campaign manager’s dream candidate.
In 2010, I spent many a sleepless night worrying that if we didn’t stop Rubio from becoming a U.S senator, that he would eventually become president of the United States of America. Rubio’s announcement Monday only proved that fear justified.
I lay awake in bed last night and couldn’t help but think that Marco Rubio would be the next president. Of course, I don’t plan to vote for him.
