Deroy Murdock

The rise of Marco Rubio

Of all the good news that the American Right is savouring at the moment, Marco Rubio’s victory must be near the top. Rubio won 49 percent of Florida’s vote, defeating Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek (20 percent) and (at 30 percent) Governor Charlie Crist, a frightfully ambitious former Republican, turned independent, who reportedly flirted with joining the Senate Democratic caucus, if elected. Rubio, a rising conservative star, promises to glow like the Sunshine State that he will represent.
 
For years, Republicans have been chided — rather unfairly — as the party of old, bald white men. Rubio undermines this accusation. Just 39 years old, Rubio exudes warmth and good humour. His youthful demeanor and movie-star good looks serve him well. Whether pundits like it or not, these things matter to voters.
 
Part of the pain of the George W. Bush years was watching the President of the United States struggle to place three or four sentences in a row. Too many Republicans endure a similar malady, though rarely with such severe symptoms. In contrast, Rubio communicates very clearly. His campaign speeches and TV interviews were cogent, forceful, and self-confident.
 
Republicans also have mixed success in appealing to minority voters. Only some 10 percent of blacks usually vote Republican, seemingly no matter what. But up to 40 percent of Hispanics have voted Republican, as benefitted President Bush in 2004.
 
However, the highly contentious debate on immigration reform has hammered the GOP’s reputation among Hispanics. In 2008, Senator John McCain (R – Arizona) won just 31 percent of that demographic, according to Pew Research, despite being considered fairly relaxed on immigration. (Pew further reports that 34 percent of Hispanics voted for Republican House contenders Tuesday, versus 30 percent in the 2006 mid-term elections. The numbers for blacks were 9 and 10 percent, respectively — exactly where they have been cemented for decades.)







Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in