Mitch Perry
Although Marco Rubio wasn’t scheduled to speak at the Sunshine Summit in Orlando until after 11:30 a.m. he gave a sneak preview of his remarks to a couple of hundred supporters in a ballroom about an hour earlier, where he was introduced by former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner.
His speech came after a raucous day on the campaign trail, where Rubio and Ted Cruz exchanged criticism about who was more for “amnesty” and less for dealing with the problem of undocumented immigrants.
Rubio said however, he wasn’t in this campaign to attack other Republicans.
“I’m not running against of these people that are running on the Republican side … I’m running for president.”
He went on to say that if nothing else, he would make Floridians proud of him during this campaign.
“If we have a policy disagreement, we’re going to talk about that disagreement. But I’m not spending any of my time or my money calling names of any other Republican. I’m not going to make it any easier for Hillary Clinton to become elected president. I am going to run for president, and with your help we are going to win.”
Rubio has made similar statements when it was reported that Jeb Bush‘s super PAC, Right to Rise, would be coming after him, perhaps spending tens of millions of dollars against him. But he seemed to turn a different check in reacting to Cruz’ comments on immigration.
Standing on a stage with his wife Jeannette next to him, Rubio also got big cheers by ripping into both Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
“There’s no socialist running for president in the Republican Party, and there’s no one under FBI investigation running in the Republican Party,” he said, eliciting huge cheers.
The Florida Senator went on to extol the virtues of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, the first four voting states next year.
But he shared his most enthusiasm for Florida, where he hinted that when GOP voters go to the polls on March 15, they could actually put him over the top for the nomination for president.
“When we come here, perhaps on that night, you will help make me not just the next nominee, but put us on the road to defeating Hillary Clinton and make me the next president of the United States,” to a deafening roar from the audience.
A major football fan, he joked that he wasn’t going to drop his support for the Florida Gators, despite the fact that they play the University of South Carolina on Saturday.
“I’ve already lost the FSU vote, I think,” he joked, and then talked about campaigning in New England.
“Listen, I’m the guy who goes to New Hampshire and makes fun of Tom Brady. When’s the guy going to retire? He’s torturing me, I’m a Dolphin fan.”
Rubio went much of familiar stump speed, taking a shot at politicians who say they’ve created jobs. “When I was mayor, I created a million jobs,” he said mockingly.” Not unless you created a million jobs in government, you didn’t. You know who creates jobs? You do. The American free enterprise system,” to cheers.
He went on to say that the government is increasingly becoming hostile to the faith community. “The result is that millions of Americans who hold traditional values now feel like outsiders in their own country. You now feel that if I hold traditional values I’m a bigot? I’m a hater? No. This is a free nation, you can believe anything you want. But that includes the right to not just believe but exercise and live out the fundamental teachings of your faith in every aspect of your life.”
He then left the stage to shake hands, and say that he’d be back on the main stage with a longer version of what he had just said. We’ll update at that time.
