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The Buzz for July 23: Rubio suggests Clinton too old

 
Associated Press
Associated Press
Published July 23, 2014

Marco Rubio, 43, found a way to call Hillary Rodham Clinton, 66, old without calling her old.

"I just think she's a 20th century candidate," Rubio said in an NPR interview that aired Tuesday morning. "I think she does not offer an agenda for moving America forward in the 21st century, at least not up till now."

Rubio has talked a lot about a 21st century agenda, so the anti-Clinton line isn't a direct knock at her age — rather, that she's from another era.

In a way, the Florida Republican is looking forward by studying the past: His message is increasingly geared to the middle class and struggling Americans. The GOP understands it needs to talk more to those people.

Clinton responded during an interview with KPCC, a public radio station in southern California. "Elections are about differences, as we know, but every election is about the future and certainly anyone who wishes to run for president has to make it clear how the experience that you've had in the past and what you believe and how you have acted on those beliefs will translate into positive results for the American people," she said.

"I will be standing up and speaking out in favor of the changes that I think we need to make to improve life for middle-class Americans, to give every kid a chance to go to college without being bankrupted and disabled by student debt, to try and resolve our immigration challenges in a way that is keeping with our values, and so much else. I know that elections are about the future, and I would look forward in engaging in that kind of debate."

Rubio also discussed immigration during his interview. He has said most of the thousands of children showing up at the border should be returned home, and he called on other countries to do their part. "This nation — no nation — is capable of sustaining or absorbing mass migrations," he said.

Rubio brought up the Cuban Adjustment Act, which gives special status to Cubans who arrive on U.S. soil — protection not afforded to children from Honduras, Guatemala and other countries with drug gang violence.

He talked about changing that policy during the immigration debate last year, but nothing made it into the bill the Senate passed.

Scott, Crist court minority vote

The Republican Party of Florida's newest advertisement is straight out of public opinion polling heaven, featuring Spanish-speaking female teachers who laud Gov. Rick Scott's education record and the teacher raises he secured.

"Florida students are better off due to Scott," says one of the women in the ad, identified only as a teacher named "Betty."

The GOP announced the $300,000 ad buy, which includes online and TV spots, just days after Crist tapped the Spanish-speaking head of Miami-Dade's Democratic Party, Annette Taddeo.

Though polls indicate Scott is competitive with Crist in courting the Hispanic vote, the Democrat bests him in support from women, who comprise a bigger segment of the likely voter electorate.

Scott's lieutenant governor and running mate, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, is also Hispanic and comes from Miami-Dade. And the governor invested early in Spanish-language ads, about $1 million worth, mostly in Miami's media market. RPOF has announced three Spanish-language and two English-language ads and has spent at least $1 million.

Gender and ethnicity aside, both campaigns are focusing heavily on education.

Democrats launch Web ad

A new Web ad from the Florida Democratic party might inflict real damage on Scott's re-election campaign if the party had enough money to air it on actual TV.

From the Democrats: "Scott's failure to answer questions is shameful and disrespectful to voters trying to understand where their governor stands on the issues facing Florida. This is exactly why Floridians have never trusted Rick Scott and why they will fire him in November. We're launching a new Web ad today, featuring footage of Rick Scott's infamous 1995 deposition. The ad is backed by paid digital advertising, including on Facebook and YouTube."

Jindal to headline GOP event

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, will headline the Republican Party of Florida's "victory" dinner in September, according to an invite that went out Tuesday.

Marc Caputo and Adam C. Smith contributed.