Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said Republican presidential front-runner and 2016 GOP rival Donald Trump will have his “moment in the sun,” but the election is going to have to be a serious one, and it will be difficult for the United States to correct course if voters get it wrong.
Mr. Rubio had been asked during an appearance on KCCI television in Iowa if the way Mr. Trump is talking about immigration will affect the discussion on how to deal with illegal immigrants already in the United States.
“Seventy percent of Republicans don’t support Donald Trump … despite the fact that he’s on television all the time and saying the things he says,” Mr. Rubio said. “He’ll have his moment; he’ll have his chance. He himself has described himself as an entertainer in the last few days … commenting on what he said about Carly Fiorina, which was outrageous.”
“So he’ll get his moment in the sun, and he’ll enjoy himself, but ultimately this election’s going to have to be a serious one,” Mr. Rubio continued. “Because if we get it wrong this time … it’s going to be very difficult to correct course. We’ll still be an important country. But we’ll lose the American dream, which makes us great.”
Mr. Rubio said caucus-goers in Iowa and voters in other early states take their role very seriously.
“They understand that we are making a selection here, you’re beginning to select the next leader of the free world — the leader of the most powerful military arsenal in all of human history,” he said. “Someone who isn’t just the leader of the government, but in many ways the leader of our country. And they take that role very seriously, and I’m optimistic about the direction this campaign, this debate will head as we get closer to February.”
Mr. Rubio has previously predicted on multiple occasions that Mr. Trump is not going to be the 2016 GOP presidential nominee.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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