TCPalm.com - Rubio Stresses His Beliefs in Thursday Visit to the Treasure Coast

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By Jim Turner

Marco Rubio isn't ready to claim the mantle of U.S. Senator just yet.

With less than two weeks before election day, and despite his lead mounting in poll after poll, the Miami Republican focused on stressing his conservative message and encouraging his supporters to vote during a Treasure Coast visit Thursday.

"Our campaign has never been about polls or debates, it's always been about what we believe," Rubio said. "If you look at the things that we said when this race started, and what we're saying today, 11, 12 days before the election day, they're the same things."

A CNN/Time poll released Thursday put Rubio ahead with 46 percent among likely voters, to 32 percent for Gov. Charlie Crist and 20 percent for Democratic U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek. At the end of September, a TCPalm/Zogby poll had Rubio with 39.2 percent to 33 percent for Crist and 17.6 percent for Meek.

Asked if his campaign was sensing victory, Rubio replied this isn't an athletic competition.

"All we will win Nov. 2, if we win this election, is the privilege and honor of serving people in the United States Senate," he said.

Speaking to a crowd of about 200 at the St. Lucie West Country Club Thursday, the majority of which had already voted, Rubio spent nearly 40 minutes discussing a need to bring halt the progressive agenda in Washington.

"If we stay on the road we are right now, a road both parties are guilty of putting us on, we're going to lose many of the things that make us exceptional and unique," he said. "And I believe we should stay great."

He made few references to his senatorial challengers, describing the contest as between a "conservative, liberal and an opportunist."

Rubio, a former state House speaker, was introduced by former state House Rep. Gayle Harrell, a Republican from Stuart who is seeking re-election to her former District 81 seat.

Harrell, who served in the House with Rubio, said she could imagine herself one day attending a President inaugural for Rubio.

Rubio used Harrell's introduction to take a few swipes at the current occupant of the White House.

"I don't want to be the president of the United States, but I wouldn't mind winning the Nobel Peace Prize," Rubio said. "Of course you have to be there for a couple of weeks before they'll give that to you."

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