Marco Rubio is a 38 year old conservative champion for Florida republicans! From 2000-2008, Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives. During this period, he served as Majority Whip, Majority Leader and Speaker of the House, effectively promoting an agenda of lower taxes, better schools, more efficient government, and free market empowerment. He is both a fiscal and social conservative. Then There’s Charlie Crist, though very popular amongst Florida voters, he doesn’t seem to be much of a republican. He does not support any kind of socially conservative agenda, he is against the offshore drilling of oil, and he is the only republican governor to publically support Obama’s stimulus plan. Charlie Crist has fought the Republican Party on so many issues I don’t see how he can still be supported by primary voters.

As the race is taking shape we are starting to see where the cards may fall, everyone knew that Crist would have a fundraising advantage over Rubio. During the last reporting period Crist raised an eye-popping $4.3 million dollars of which he will only be able to spend about 1/2 during the primary election due to election laws. Rubio was able to raise about $340,000, which leaves him with a tough hill to climb.

No surprise to many, the Washington elite have given the nod to Crist for this race. That is one of the reasons for him raising so much money. I was personally very disappointed with the NRSC (National Republican Senatorial Committee) and John Cornyn’s endorsement. Crist is hardly a republican, but because they think he will win they endorsed him. There have been a few men of courage that have come to Rubio’s aid. Mike Huckabee endorsed Rubio and did some fundraising for him as well. Jim Demint championed Rubio’s leadership and stood up publically even after the NRSC announced their endorsement of Crist. Demint is quoted as saying “Marco Rubio is one of the most exciting and inspiring people I’ve heard in a long time”.

In the end this campaign gives us a chance to see who is committed to the conservative cause, anyone who is willing to endorse Charlie Crist simply because they think he has a better chance of winning is not truly committed to seeing effectual change take place in the republican party, in the U.S. Senate, and in the United States of America. Now that the financial reports have come out we can see that it will be an uphill battle for Marco Rubio, but with the tools and talent displayed thus far, I feel that he just might surprise us yet!