Only once in modern times — George Bush in 1988 — has the same political party won three national presidential elections in a row. History was on the Republicans side in 2016, all they had to do was nominate a candidate who could appeal to women voters, and someone who could carry the swingstates of Florida and Ohio.
Thus why Hillary Clinton’s team feared the nomination of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio the most, and did everything it could to promote New York City billionaire reality TV host Donald Trump as the alternative.
According to newly released Clinton campaign emails from WikiLeaks:
- “I’m beginning to worry more about Rubio than the others. He’s playing this very smart — only one who didn’t duck like a chicken s— on the Q of whether POTUS loves America. He has stronger right wing cred than Jeb and he’s finding a way to the middle enough for now and he will be the most exciting choice to Republicans. Could pose a real threat with Latinos etc.” –Joel Benenson, Clinton’s pollster in February 2015
- “He’s very inspiring at his best. Feels kind of like a light weight in a lot of interviews — but I take your point.” — Mandy Grunweld, Clinton advisor in response
- “He gives a good speech, and sounded much more reasonable, populist and accessible than much of the rest of the GOP field. Felt more like an inspiring Democratic speech than a GOP candidate, outside of foreign policy, repealing Obamacare and choice. Lots of references to ‘our generation’ (I.e. Him and younger voters) vs. ‘their generation’ (them being us, Jeb, his opponents, Washington).” — Christina Reynolds, Clinton deputy communications director in April 2015
- “Just did this really quickly, but it’s interesting to compare/contrast with Obama 08.” –Clinton staffer Tyson Brody (included quotes from a Rubio speech)
- “It always makes sense to whack Steve King. And this is particularly outrageous and bigoted and (fill in the bad word). But the question from you and the comms team is whether hitting King takes away from our effort to get a clean contrast with Bush/Rubio et al. They would also attack King, so it sort of lets them off the hook.” –Jake Sullivan, senior campaign adviser writing in May 2015, fearing Clinton needed to contrast her immigration position to Rubio’s
- In July 2015 the Clinton team spent hours crafting a response to Rubio’s opposition to President Obama’s recognition of Cuba.
- In October 2015 the Clinton team began formulating an attack on Rubio’s lack of attendance in the senate.
- Two days before Rubio dropped out of the race in March, former Hill staffer Brent Budowsky sent an email to Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta saying he was “petrified that Hillary is almost totally dependent on Republicans nominating Trump.”
And that was exactly what the Clinton team had been dreaming of for over a year.
Shortly before Trump announced last year, Marissa Astor, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook’s assistant, sent an email to Podesta saying the campaign knew Trump was going to run, and “needed to push” his legitimacy as a candidate.
Later, the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign compared notes in a memo in which Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Ben Carson were listed as the desired general election opponents.
“We need to be elevating the Pied Piper candidates so that they are leaders of the pack and tell the press to take them seriously,” the memo noted.
Rubio is seeking reelection to his Florida senate seat, and is widely considered a GOP frontrunner for the presidential nomination in 2020 should Trump go down to a big electoral defeat.