Last year’s storyline on Marco Rubio? After a failed attempt on immigration reform, he’s washed up as a 2016 presidential contender. The new 2014 storyline? Rubio is resurrecting his presidential prospects with smart public relations activities on the foreign policy and economic front. Cyclical up and down news coverage is what it is: largely illusory to determining reality. But there’s no denying Rubio’s 2014 activities have been crisp, strategic and competently executed.
Last week, Rubio delivered an address at Google’s DC offices entitled “Sparking Dynamic Growth in 21st Century America” and staked out a sorely lacking aspect of GOP <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-552" alt="Senator-Rubio" src="http://dcspectator.strategicmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Senator-Rubio-150×150.jpg" width="150" height="150" srcset="http://www.dcspectator pharmacie viagra prix.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Senator-Rubio-150×150.jpg 150w, http://www.dcspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Senator-Rubio-160×160.jpg 160w, http://www.dcspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Senator-Rubio-320×320.jpg 320w” sizes=”(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px” />congressional messaging: growing the economy, not just more austerity. The 24/7/365 austerity and budget cutting message is depressing, and Rubio appears to be moving out of that uninspiring construct. Smart move for the long term.
And besides investing heavily in his foreign policy messaging — conveniently coincidental to Putin’s Crimean muscle flexing — Rubio has addressed higher education reforms and the need to consolidate anti-poverty programs amid the discussion of income inequality.
The bottom line is that Rubio is doing what you’re supposed to do when you hit a political brick wall: change the subject, talk policy, make news, get people talking, and get back in the game. Immigration will be back for sure, but the lessons learned from his first unfortunate foray will help him better address the matter in the long term.
An impressive 2014 thus far for Marco Rubio.
Gordon Hensley