It’s Florida All Over Again: Why Rubio Will be the VP Nominee

Official portrait of US Senator Marco Rubio of Florida

(Update: 6/15/12 Following President Obama’s policy of granting protection from deportation of illegal immigrants who were born or brought here as children, Rubio as a VP choice is once again called into question. The Obama administration’s actions caught the Romney camp flat-footed on the issue leaving Romney left to either backtrack on his previous position on immigration or to take a bold step such as nominate Rubio.)

It’s Florida, again. Mitt Romney has but a few ways to beat President Obama in November. One of them involves swing states; or states with undecided or independent voters. Florida is one of the most crucial. No one needs to be reminded of the year 2000 as an example.

Yet how does Mitt Romney win Florida? Well, he did pretty good in the primary although he lost the northern panhandle to Newt Gingrich. Even so, he stands to gain Gingrich’s votes in the general election. But Romney has a Latino problem. Declaring that he would vote against the Dream Act that would allow Latinos already living in the country to get an education or serve in the military has not really endeared Romney to the ever growing Latino population.

Solution? Marco Rubio. Why not pander to the Latinos by asking Rubio to be your number two? Rubio is a Cuban American, a rising star in the Republican party, and generally likable and handsome young man. Romney needs Florida. Rubio would help him cinch that victory and possibly (once again) the Presidency.

Related articles

• Florida Senator Marco Rubio leaves the door open to VP role (boston.com)
• Rubio’s the Overwhelming VP Fav at Conservative Conference (MSNBC.com)
• Former AG Gonzales: Rubio not a wise VP pick (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
• Obama’s immigration trifecta (salon.com)
• Obama administration won’t seek deportation of young illegal immigrants (nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com)