With the presidential campaign leaving the Sunshine State after Florida Republicans voted in the primary Tuesday, some of the spotlight returns to Marco Rubio, who became a conservative star in the 2010 election cycle by defeating then-Gov. Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate election.  

Appearing on Fox News on Tuesday night, Rubio said Mitt Romney’s big win in the GOP primary in the Sunshine State would help him if he emerges to take on President Barack Obama in November. Rubio has not endorsed any of the Republican presidential hopefuls.

“I stand by what I said earlier today: I think, at the end of the day, however long this process may take, I think if you win in Florida I think it’s a pretty good indication -- even in a Republican primary -- about how you are going to do in a general election,” Rubio said.

Rubio said attack ads helped shape the outcome in Florida -- and may do so again come November, possibly to the Republican candidate's detriment.

“I do think these ads could have an impact, especially in Florida,” Rubio said. “This is not one of those states where in November it’s automatically in the Republican column. I mean, our nominee's going to have to come back here to Florida and is going to have to win the vote, and so some of these things that are being said now in January are still going to be on their minds in October when they’re making up their mind about the next president of the United States ... Ultimately, I do think it can be a factor and we should be concerned about that.”

Rubio is also becoming increasingly vocal on social issues at the national level.

With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandating that religious organizations provide insurance coverage for birth control under the federal health-care law that Obama signed, Rubio introduced a measure Tuesday allowing church-affiliated organizations the ability to opt out on grounds of religious liberty and right of conscience. Rubio introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012. Staffers told Sunshine State News they are working on securing Senate co-sponsors and backers in the U.S. House.  

“The Obama administration’s obsession with forcing mandates on the American people has now reached a new low by violating the conscience rights and religious liberties of our people,” said Rubio in a statement. “Under this president, we have a government that has grown too big, too costly and now even more overbearing by forcing religious entities to abandon their beliefs. This is a common-sense bill that simply says the government can’t force religious organizations to abandon the fundamental tenets of their faith because the government says so.”

Rubio will also be speaking to pro-lifers in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. The freshman senator will be offering the keynote address at the Susan B. Anthony List’s Campaign for Life Gala. The Susan B. Anthony List supports the election of pro-life women to political office.

With Rubio remaining popular in Florida -- a Sunshine State News Poll of Republican presidential primary voters taken last month found that 77 percent of those surveyed held a favorable view of him while only 10 percent saw him in an unfavorable light -- he continues to generate buzz as a possible vice presidential candidate.

Rubio won high marks from a man who knows the vice presidency well -- Dan Quayle, who held the post under President George H.W. Bush.

Talking to John Miller of National Review, Quayle said Rubio would be a top contender for the vice presidency. Quayle also singled out Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and two other Republicans in the U.S. Senate -- Rob Portman of Ohio and John Thune of South Dakota -- as other leading vice presidential hopefuls.

Quayle backed Romney for president in December.

“Rubio is a comer. He has an impressive resume, a wonderful story,” Quayle told Miller before downplaying the fact that Rubio has said he does not want to be vice president. “Let me tell you: If the offer is made, he will not reject it.”



Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.