November 5, 2009
Posted: November 5th, 2009 02:22 PM ET

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A socially conservative PAC announced Thursday that it is endorsing Marco Rubio's 2010 Senate bid.
A socially conservative PAC announced Thursday that it is endorsing Marco Rubio's 2010 Senate bid.

Washington (CNN) – The FRC Action PAC, the Family Research Council's political action committee, announced Thursday that it's endorsing former Florida state legislator Marco Rubio's 2010 Senate bid.

"Marco Rubio has been a true friend of the family and the culture of life as a state legislator in Florida," Tony Perkins, FRC Action president, said in a statement announcing the endorsement. "Rep. Rubio's many years of advocacy on behalf of pro-family causes will serve him well in the Senate. FRC Action PAC believes that Marco Rubio will be a true advocate for the issues that best uphold and strengthen families. We are proud to support his candidacy."

Rubio is set to face off against Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in Florida's GOP Senate primary. After conservative pressure forced moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava out of the race in New York's 23rd congressional district, many of the same activists - who have made similar complaints about Crist's candidacy - pledged to repeat the performance.

"Dede Scozzafava is out," wrote RedState's Erick Erickson shortly after the state assemblywoman ended her bid. "We must now do to Crist what we did to Scozzafava. He's even more a potential menace simply by virtue of being a potential Senator."

After Scozzafava dropped out of the race in New York's 23rd congressional district, Rubio penned a blog post on a conservative blog.

Scozzafava's departure from the race "should send an encouraging message to conservatives everywhere," Rubio blogged on October 31, "It is not only right and necessary to stand up for our principles, it is also an appealing strategy to Americans yearning for less government and more fiscal restraint in Washington."

Perhaps in response to Scozzafava's downfall in the NY-23 race, Crist already appears to be trying to downplay views that might draw conservative fire. In an interview Wednesday with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Crist said that he never supported President Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan, despite his appearance at an event with Obama in Florida earlier this year.

The Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative growth that backed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 race, announced Thursday that it will begin airing a new television ad that criticizes Crist for his support of Obama's stimulus plan.

Filed under: Charlie Crist • Florida • Marco Rubio


Ed Tallahassee   November 5th, 2009 3:52 pm ET

The more Rubio bad mouths Crist the more I start to like him.

All the news ths is fit to omit   November 5th, 2009 3:51 pm ET

I like both of them and I agree with Gingrich, we need to be a party with many moderates in it as well.

The only person who I agree with totally is ME

However, the media needs to stop lying that the republican that quit the race in NY was a MODERATE, she was nothing CLOSE to being anything BUT a liberal.

Republicans in NY messed that up themselves, but Owens will borrow the seat for a year and no more.

However, the Republicans will be Governors of NJ and VA for FOUR YEARS BARRY..............

You are one and done.

Jane/Seattle   November 5th, 2009 3:50 pm ET

And so the Continuous Bi-Polar, See Saw Drama To WIN is in full swing mode SO Little will be accomplished. Were any of our mostly political, fake leaders (money changers!) to REALLY CARE ABOUT US OR THIS EARTH, they'd all suspend this drama. They would know to Choose an Honest Model of Ethical Leadership. THIS model truly employs COOPERATION to solve problems instead of creating more with a false COMPETITION. THIS CORNERSTONE CONCEPT , COMPETITION, is the very antiIn the words of the wonderful John Denver classic unvieled in Russia some many years ago: "It's About Time", "...it's about time we realize it, we're ll in this together, it's about time we find out it's all of us or none. It's about time, it's about changes, it's about time..." Peace

Mike in LR   November 5th, 2009 3:50 pm ET

For the first time in years polls show more support for right to life than support for abortion on demand. As a Christian abortion is simply murder to me when done only as means of birth control. I am not qualified to judge those who do this, I'm far from perfect. That is up to Jesus when the time comes.

The family is the ordained social unit established by God. Family values simply seek to nurture that. The hatred exhibited toward those who defend the family is a sad commentary on our society. Of course it all boils down to the fact that God ordained a father and mother not a father and a father or a mother and a mother. However it is not up to me to judge again. Our freedom to choose our own destiny is God given also. Therefore I have nothing to say about what others do as long as they don't ask me (with my taxes) to pay for it.

SY   November 5th, 2009 3:48 pm ET

Rubio is a Bush clone, and yes, he is a right wing whacko. He pushes religion down your throats and he appeals to the religious idiots. He loves money and the wealthy and hates his own government. I do hope he wins the repub primary. Go DEMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. Tony Perkins is not good for this country either; talk about wanting to take your freedom away, he's your man.

Ed, Santa Fe, NM   November 5th, 2009 3:46 pm ET

I hope they both lose...... yuck

Laverne   November 5th, 2009 3:39 pm ET

Look out Crist you are now officially a target. The republicans are planning to backstab you and throw you to the wolves!

carlos, THAT one   November 5th, 2009 3:38 pm ET

CONServaties are the rotten, putrid smell in this United States of America and we must get rid of THEM......anyway.....why are they doing all this clownish stuff.......a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT is going to win the senate seat, that's all folks!!!!!

R.B.   November 5th, 2009 3:34 pm ET

I guess I don't enough about Marco Rubio to distinguish him from Senator Crist with any specificity, but I am open to hearing more about him. Rubio seems decent enough, polite, well-spoken, rather charismatic. I've heard Marco Rubio give a couple of speeches on television and I didn't hear any harsh, negative, intolerant, or right-wing radical rhetoric of social conservatism -you know- the kind that divides and entrenches public opnion, erodes peoples' civil liberties, and keeps society in the Dark Ages. Am I missing something? If Rubio plays his cards right, he may be in a future position to be America's first Latino president. He might yet be the center 's voice in a polarized nation, the bridge between left and right. But he is young and there is time to evolve his public agenda, style, messsage.

Michael   November 5th, 2009 3:33 pm ET

Please nominate Rubio and give Democrats a new Senate seat in 2010!

Michelle   November 5th, 2009 3:27 pm ET

And that's what these protests are: "a performance." I don't think Crist will go away as quietly as DeDe did, and he shouldn't If there is no room for moderates in the Republican Party, they are doomed. These folks have blinders on: my way or the highway, and just because they can raise a lot of money (from obviously wealthy people who have nothing better to do than pay to ruin America) they really believe they have power. Doesn't matter that Owens WON in NY. against their strict conservative candidate. They were more excited that they forced DeDe out. So much for any hint at inclusion. Scary.

rosslaw   November 5th, 2009 3:26 pm ET

This is like the kiss of death. It's only a matter of time now that young Marco will be exposed for dallying with his campaign manager's wife,young boys, ferrets, etc. These idjits just do not get the idea that holding yourself out as the moral standard to which the entire country should adhere while advocating the policies of a political party with the instincts of the Russian Mafia, albeit without the competence, is not the smart thing to do.

MobsterNadia   November 5th, 2009 3:16 pm ET

Typo. I meant to say "back in February"

Crist cut property taxes but raise the assessment fees! Now our property taxes are higher than b/4.

Crist will not get my vote!!!

brs   November 5th, 2009 3:16 pm ET

By "pro-family" they mean, white, straight, 2.5 kids, stay-at-home mom and a working dad with an under-the-carpet drinking problem...might as well just change their name to "1951 PAC"

Barbara Indpendent in NY   November 5th, 2009 3:13 pm ET

The Republicans thought that they would never lose another major election if they had Conservatives join with them (there is a Conservative party). But the Conservatives had their own agenda and they have hijacked the Republican party. As the saying goes.."becareful what you wish for".

MobsterNadia   November 5th, 2009 3:12 pm ET

Go Marco Rubio. You have my vote buddy!!

I cannot vote for Gov Crist who back in December backed the stimulus, encouraged Congress to vote for it then turn around yesterday and flat out lied saying he never supported the stimulus!!

Politicians like Gov. Charlie Crist must be held accountable and fired!

If I were Rubio, I would run just one ad showing Crist's lies!!!

Jim in Florida   November 5th, 2009 3:09 pm ET

I am a Florida who will vote for Rubio. Crist is a populist of the worst sort. The media is and will try to paint Rubio as some kind of far right wing nut but I can assure you he is anything but that.

Standby from Florida

Bob   November 5th, 2009 3:09 pm ET

Erickson, Palin, Limbaugh et al, just don't get it. Its *exactly* the Rubios and the attitude that he represents that is driving people out of the Republican camp. Never voting republican again.

Carly Fiorina vs Boxer in California? Sorry, saw what you did to HP. I'll stick with boxer warts and all.

Honest AB   November 5th, 2009 3:06 pm ET

This is in response to the Security guy admitting to being guilty along with this endorsement.

It's amazing how they can find allegiations on this man and send him to jail, but Cheney is still on the loose like Bin Laden. When they decide to capture Bin Laden, they should put both him and Dick in the same cell. They know where Bin Laden is, just as they know where the front door step of Dick's, but of course politics is still yet at its best.

Washington and all of congress are corrupt and we need to stop thinking these people will do anything to fix our broken economy. You must remember they recked it due to their own greed. They have given to much power to the wealthy, which means they don't even have control anymore, because the wealthy cut their paychecks.

New Father   November 5th, 2009 3:01 pm ET

The anti-Obama rally has finally begun, about time. Anyone in Florida on here go to recovery site and millions paid out with few to no jobs created. I am so glad the Obama admin. decided to show all Americans how incompetent the government really is. There is some good news Cuba with help from Russia will soon be drilling off-shore Florida. It is only around 5 billion * $80 so not a lot. Thanks Obama for helping the Cuban government.

HarryB   November 5th, 2009 2:59 pm ET

The good news is that Marco Rubio is a true Right-Wing Conservative, while Charlie Crist will be whatever you'd like him to be. The bad news is that Rubio is so far to the Right that he'd terrify Attila the Hun.

Larry   November 5th, 2009 2:56 pm ET

Club for Growth – against stimulus? That's a slight contradiction there – see we weren't growing – hence the need for stimulus. That should not be hard to understand.

"Americans yearning for "less government"? When are people going to realize that it is OUR govt. Why would you be against OUR govt? OUT govt is the only entity capable of standing up to the giant corporations that would prefer we work around the clock for pennies like they do in many parts of Asia.

Sanity   November 5th, 2009 2:53 pm ET

Marco Rubio is a scary, narrow-minded piece of garbage who has done as much as he can to reduce the rights of the people of Florida. He has hurt the Republican brand in this State consistently due to his propensity of jumping in bed with State Farm and screwing over the people of this State.

Bubba   November 5th, 2009 2:52 pm ET

I expect the Grand Old Party to split into the Grand Party and the Old Party, and then into the Reform Old Party, the Orthodox Old Party, the Grand Paw Party, and the Grand Ole Opry by Christmas. Bye, Republicans! See ya!

Useyourbrain!!   November 5th, 2009 2:51 pm ET

Wonder how long it will be before Rubio gets caught in a scandal...

Charlie, don't bring yourself down to the level of Boehner, Cantor, Gingrich..etc. If you do, you will definitely lose....

Kevin Evansville, IN   November 5th, 2009 2:50 pm ET

Any group with the label "Family" in is it a bunch of quacks.

The people pontificating the most about values and importance of the family are the same groups with the highest divorce rates. For example, Southern Baptists have the highest divorce rates of Christians, whereas atheists have one of the lowest rates.

'Family' is really just a code word for hating gay people.

Thanks, now I know who not to vote for.

LacrosseMom   November 5th, 2009 2:47 pm ET

Crist will be pushed out by the far-right-fringe. I hate to give the GOP any helpful advice .....but.... as a registered Independent I can assure the GOP that IF they throw all the MODERATES under the bus....... the Independents will not vote GOP!

chubby   November 5th, 2009 2:42 pm ET

Crist is a liberal demorat posing as a Republican. We are voting for Rubio.

JP   November 5th, 2009 2:32 pm ET

These people seems vile and vicious, I'm sure they are all such upstanding christians.

File under "Sarcasm"   November 5th, 2009 2:30 pm ET

It's going to be an interesting Primary in Florida.

I know what will help. Let's get Acorn out to mobilize voters for Rubio in the Primary on the assumption that it will insure a victory for the Democrat in the General election.

Stacie   November 5th, 2009 2:26 pm ET

I doubt Rubio is a friend of my family...

Please, please try to do to Crist what you did to Scozzafava. The democratic opponent will credit you for his/her success!

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