Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate: What They Are Saying About Today’s Debate: “Rubio Won”
National Review’s Kathryn Jean Lopez: “Rubio Won.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “The Crist-Rubio Debate,” National Review Online’s “The Corner” Blog, 3/28/10)
Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell: “Rubio Probably ‘Won’ This Debate … Rubio Was In Control.” “Overall, I think Rubio probably ‘won’ this debate – partially because of he better played to FOX’s conservative audience, but also because he sounded more confident about what he was doing there. There was just something a little odd and unsettling about seeing the senior statesman on the attack. Rubio was in control.” (Scott Maxwell, “Crist Vs. Rubio: 1st Debate Has Nastiness, But Also A Winner,” Orland Sentinel’s “Taking Names” Blog, 3/28/10)
Tampa Tribune’s William March: Rubio “Seemed More In Command Of Facts On Public Policy Issues.” “Rubio managed to maintain a calm, reasonable demeanor in spite of the attacks, however, and sometimes seemed more in command of facts on public policy issues.” (William March, “First Crist-Rubio Debate: Clash On Ethics, Issues,” Tampa Tribune’s “March On Politics” Blog, 3/28/10)
· March: Rubio “Repeatedly Portrayed Crist As Someone Who Has Failed To Live Up To the Image He Sought As A Conservative.” “Rubio, meanwhile, repeatedly portrayed Crist as someone who has failed to live up to the image he sought as a conservative. ‘In 2006 I voted for you when you said you would be a good Jeb Bush Republican,’ Rubio said. ‘Your record is very different.’ He repeated the complaints many Republicans have lodged against Crist, including backing the Obama stimulus plan and failing in some cases to appoint judges backed by conservative interest groups. ‘Everyone knows that you won’t stand up to that agenda – just a year ago you were campaigning for it,’ Rubio said.” (William March, “First Crist-Rubio Debate: Clash On Ethics, Issues,” Tampa Tribune’s “March On Politics” Blog, 3/28/10)
National Review’s Kathryn Jean Lopez: “Crist Never Really Made The Case Why You Would Vote For Crist.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “The Crist-Rubio Debate,” National Review Online’s “The Corner” Blog, 3/28/10)
· Lopez: “Given The Chance To Make A Closing Statement On ‘Why Crist?’, Crist Attacks.” (Twitter, 3/28/10)
National Review’s Kathryn Jean Lopez: “Crist Was Thin-Skinned And In Attack Mode.” “It went exactly as I could have predicted it would: Crist was thin-skinned and in attack mode.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “The Crist-Rubio Debate,” National Review Online’s “The Corner” Blog, 3/28/10)
· Lopez: “Crist Sounded Shrill And Desperate…” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “The Crist-Rubio Debate,” National Review Online’s “The Corner” Blog, 3/28/10)
Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell: “Crist Didn’t Help Himself” By “Frequently Dodging Questions.” “Still, Crist didn’t help himself, frequently dodging questions and often giving sacchariney half-answers when he didn’t.” (Scott Maxwell, “Crist Vs. Rubio: 1st Debate Has Nastiness, But Also A Winner,” Orland Sentinel’s “Taking Names” Blog, 3/28/10)
· Maxwell: “Wallace Correctly Called Out Crist For Bogusly Claiming He Hasn’t Raised Taxes.” “And Wallace correctly called out Crist for bogusly claiming he hasn’t raised taxes when he did just that last year with higher taxes and fees on everything from cigarettes to drivers licenses.” (Scott Maxwell, “Crist Vs. Rubio: 1st Debate Has Nastiness, But Also A Winner,” Orland Sentinel’s “Taking Names” Blog, 3/28/10)
Miami Herald: “Charlie Crist Rules Out Running As An Independent, Sort Of.” “Chris Wallace asks Charlie Crist about the rumors he’ll run as an independent and asks Crist whether he’ll rule it out. Crist says ‘I am running as a Republican…’ but Wallace doesn’t hear an outright denial and asks him again. ‘That’s right, that’s what I said,’ Crist replies.” (Lesley Clark, “Charlie Crist rules out running as an independent, sort of,” Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” Blog, 3/28/10)
Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell: Crist “Played Into Rubio’s Hand” On The Stimulus. “Just as significantly, Crist seemed to embrace his reputation as a moderate – a potentially risky proposition in a GOP primary. He confirmed that he would’ve voted for Barack Obama’s stimulus plan and listed moderate Republican senators as his mentors. That part played into Rubio’s hand. Said Rubio to Crist: ‘Everyone knows you won’t stand up to the Obama agenda.’” (Scott Maxwell, “Crist Vs. Rubio: 1st Debate Has Nastiness, But Also A Winner,” Orland Sentinel’s “Taking Names” Blog, 3/28/10)
· The Hill: “Crist Also Defended His Acceptance Of Stimulus Funds.” “Crist also defended his acceptance of stimulus funds, and said as a senator he would have voted for the $787 billion package. ‘I think it was the right thing to do at the time,’ Crist said, noting that the economy ‘was falling off a cliff.’” (Bridget Johnson, “Crist, Rubio Debate On Morning TV,” The Hill, 3/28/10)
CONTACT: Alex Burgos (305) 389-3594
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