Unsettled race: With Rubio's missteps, GOP funders hold for consensus candidate
Politics
Unsettled race: With Rubio’s missteps, GOP funders hold for consensus candidate
Sen. Marco Rubio appears to have lost his foothold and continues to struggle with charges that he is too inexperienced to be president. The Florida Republican, who a week ago seemed to be the consensus candidate to take on businessman Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, now feels former Florida Gov. Jeb bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who have deeper resumes, gunning for him. To make things worse for Rubio, a rush of Republican donors and party regulars to unite behind him has been put on hold.
It seems like for us to get a consensus candidate we may have to wait a little longer.
Henry Barbour, an influential Mississippi Republican
The central question about Rubio’s candidacy has been whether he has the leadership mettle to respond gracefully and forcefully under pressure. His Senate career has raised questions about that. And presidential campaigns, as crazy and comical as they can be, do put candidates through a testing and examination process that lays bare their faults and forces them to respond.
[The] race is going to stay very much unsettled. A lot of the big donors and endorsers are now going to sit back and watch this thing unfold a little bit.
Mike DuHaime, Chris Christie adviser
