Posted on 03/07/2016 6:24:15 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Ted Cruz's allies are launching an all-out offensive to ensure Marco Rubio loses his home state, an effort that reflects the urgency of Cruz's mission to narrow the field to himself and Donald Trump.
Keep the Promise I, one of four main super PACs supporting the U.S. senator from Texas, released a number of ads Sunday night that target Rubio on his Senate attendance record, support for sugar subsidies and tax proposals. Keep the Promise I has said it intends to compete in the Sunshine State, which holds its winner-take-all primary March 15.
A spokeswoman for the super PAC said it has plans to air some of the commercials in Florida but declined to comment further Monday morning.
The commercials most sharply criticize Rubio for favoring subsidies for the sugar industry, charging him with seeking to protect the interests of his donors. One spot calls Rubio an "errand boy" for the industry, while another says he is guilty of the same kind of "pay-to-play corporate cronyism" that Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is.
In recent days, Cruz has made clear he plans to "vigorously contest" Florida, potentially keeping Rubio from the first-place finish he likely needs to continue his campaign. Cruz is hoping to stop Trump by forcing a two-man race the Texas senator is confident he can win.
Cruz's campaign has signaled it sees an opening in Florida, opening 10 offices across the state last week and not ruling out travel there surrounding the Republican debate Thursday in Miami. Rubio is scrambling to shore up support at home, where some polls have shown him trailing Trump by as much as 20 points.
The Florida senator's campaign called the super PAC ads hypocritical and expressed confidence Floridians would pick Rubio over Cruz.
"Considering Senator Cruz's weak record on defense, tax plan that will lead to higher prices for seniors, and political rise fueled by undisclosed corporate loans, these ads are the Gold Standard of hypocrisy," Rubio spokesman Joe Pounder said in a statement. "Floridians know Marco is the only candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton and usher in a new American Century with a stronger economy and national defense."
Keep the Promise I has been largely funded by an initial donation of $11 million from New York hedge-fund magnate Robert Mercer. The super PAC has since spent over $7.5 million in support of Cruz, and it had $2.7 million cash on hand at the end of January.
Keep the Promise I was not the only pro-Cruz outside group Monday seeking a piece of the action in Florida. Make DC Listen, a political action committee supporting Cruz, was rallying supporters with the possibility that the Texas senator could pull off an upset in the Sunshine State and "turn the race upside down."
"One of the single biggest ways to stop Trump at this point in the race is for Ted Cruz to win Florida," John Drogin, the head of the PAC, said in an email to backers, calling a vote for Rubio "a vote for Trump."
Isn’t that what their supposed to do. This is about winning.
I think Foam Boy still has supporters here.
It will be funny if Cruz wins Florida. The gope will turn on him so fast it’ll make Trumps hair stick straight up.
Rubio made a mistake by not running for his senate seat this cycle. The campaign infrastructure could be shared shared with his presidential campaign
It should be a 2-man race between a True Conservative versus a Fake Conservative. I am not talking about roobio.
This is priceless. Cruz has bamboozled Rubio into attacking Trump nonstop so he could keep his “above the fray” look going.
It’s just hilarious that Rubio has done the dirty work for Cruz. Now, Cruz is taking him out, LOL.
Personally I don’t consider Trump a conservative. I consider him a man who is not owned by anyone.
The fact that the gope is more afraid of him than they are afraid of Cruz should make every true conservative vote for him. Our goal should be to get rid of the gope party.
What’s even funnier is if Cruz is successful, takes Rubes out and Trump wins FL, virtually eliminating Teddy.
Cruz HAS to have FL, NY, OH, NC, and IL.
How much will Cruz owe Mercer when this election is over. Add the other two billionaire major supporters of Cruz and that adds up to a lot of bought votes over the next few years.
Honestly, I think this is a mistake. Unless Cruz can win Florida we are far better letting Rubio win it so Trump doesn’t get all the delegates there.
Ted doesn’t have a chance in Florida.
And it would probably help Ted if Rubio won Florida.
So if I were the Trump campaign, I wouldn’t be tempted to stand back and wait for Ted to attack Rubio. I’d be running my own attack ads, my own positive messages and campaigning hard.
Unlike, you I don’t think Sen. Cruz can be bought, but since you’re a Trump supporter you would know more about buying politicians, since Trump’s been doing it for years.
“Personally I don’t consider Trump a conservative. I consider him a man who is not owned by anyone.”
I agree that he is not a conservative. Also, he is definitely owned by his own ego and is going to benefit from Presidency. He himself has said that he uses gubmint for his own benefit.
There is no reason to doubt him now. The guy wants to make him barely-dozen billion wealth into multi-hundred billion or a trillion dollar wealth. The guy who is looking for a deal at every corner must be a moron not to look at the biggest deal available to him as the President of the United States.
The lessening of the power of the GOPe is a major reason I support Trump. He is the only one that can crush the hold they have on the party. He can remake it into a true people’s party.
Donald Trump attacks ‘Corrupt Marco Rubio’ in new ad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3406398/posts
Maybe they should bring out the old ‘he has friends in the Mafia’ charge. /sarcasm
I'm sooo tired of corn syrup.
That would be interesting if Cruz all of the sudden has a very clear path to the nomination. The GOPe probably would turn on him very quickly and then back Trump.
Which would be interesting because by the logic expressed on this forum by many Trump supporters that means Trump is GOPe.
Cruz is already bought, lock stock and barrel. They’re praying he gets elected so they can get their paybacks. He’s playing the game same as any GOP establishment does.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.