Sen. Marco Rubio joins city leaders in final push for early voting

Jacksonville leaders were joined by Sen. Marco Rubio at a “get out the vote” event in Jacksonville on Saturday.

“This is an office for which we are going to reach out to everyone,” said Rubio. “Republicans, Democrats, Independents.”

Rubio is already anticipating a matchup with Democrat Patrick Murphy in November’s general election.

He stressed the importance of beating Murphy to help ensure a Republican majority in the Senate.

We asked Rubio about Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump’s slipping national poll numbers and whether he believes it could hurt his chances.

A recent poll from Quinnipiac University shows Democrat Hillary Clinton beating Trump by 10 percent.

“When you run for the U.S. Senate, you have to stand on your own two feet,” said Rubio. “People are voting for you. It’s a co-equal branch of government. The Senate doesn’t work for the presidency and it doesn’t work for the house.”

While Rubio is looking ahead toward November’s general election, Jacksonville leaders are looking to this Tuesday because of County Referendum 1.

A close vote is anticipated for the pension tax referendum, which extends the county’s half cent sales tax.

The referendum is barely expected to pass, according to a recent University of North Florida and Florida Times-Union poll.

“We’re winning,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “I said from the beginning, we’re going to win.”

Cox Media Group