Posted on 06/19/2013 6:35:18 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Former Rep. Allen West open to Senate primary challenge against Rubio By Justin Sink - 06/19/13 08:34 AM ET
Former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said Wednesday that he may mount a primary challenge to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in their state's 2016 U.S. Senate primary.
West told station WMAL that he could run for Senate "if I see people that are not taking our country down the right path, if I see people that are not standing up for the right type of principles, and putting their own party politics before what is best for the United States of America."
Asked directly in he would rule out challenging Rubio, West responded, "Chirping... chirping... chirping."
"We'll see what happens down the pike," he added. "God will set my feet on the right path."
The one-term congressman, who narrowly lost re-election last year, acknowledged he would face an uphill battle.
"That's a pretty heavy lift, because you're talking about running against a sitting senator, and then, of course, that creates that schism that the other side would love to see happen," said West.
But the former congressman said he had a "lot of concerns" over the comprehensive immigration reform proposal crafted by a bipartisan group — including Rubio — in the Senate.
"This whole 'comprehensive' thing - I think the bill now is up to 1,075 pages - Once again, the American people don't trust that," West said.
Rubio, a Tea Party favorite, is seen as crucial to winning conservative support for the immigration bill. But the Florida senator has suggested he may oppose the measure he helped write unless tougher border security requirements are adopted.
West has said he has no plans to run for the House of Representatives again in 2014.
A much-needed wakeup call for Rubio! There should be consequences for caucusing with the enemy. West is a good guy to do it, too.
Florida’s a lost cause. West would be better advised to save his time and money. Rubio and Crist are the face of Florida now.
Whether West will or not, I think another constitutional conservative who will be independent of the establishment (just work for their consistency- a big call, I realize); would be the best direction to go. Marco has to go because he has been lying to everyone or part of the lie. He couldn’t win the WH now. I just don’t see it because of his ties to the Durbin/ Schumer bill. All this has been is lying to the citizenry. How can you just forget that is the bigger picture. It’s a shame a few negative ads and voter fraud took West from Congress -and let’s not forget the backstabbing/ non support form the Gop-e who distanced from him for being just too vocal/too honest.
Bite your tongue..............
The beltway gang grabbed onto Marco to do what is going on. Make sure he came into the inner power so he would not be a true Tea Party patriot... since he was so likable and well known. They knew what they were doing. It seems Marco is having a ball being friends in the beltway circles. He reminds me of the boy in class that does anything to remain popular. Cute on the outside but a little less honest on the inside. His lies are truly embarrassing. His favorable numbers in Florida are dropping because of his amnesty push.
Good.
We need a whole new Conservative structure, and the establishment swine on the slagheap of history.
Globally.
The republicans wanted Rubio to help them garner hispanic votes and he gladly went with the program. West will get many votes because he is against amnesty.
We need to tell these amnesty cranks that they may get a few hispanic voters from the democrats but they will be losing legal taxpaying conservatives and republicans in the process.
Sweet.
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