Marco Rubio: 'We're Going To Shock The Country' By Winning Florida Primary
MIAMI (CBSNewYork) -- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's political future could hang in the balance Tuesday as Floridians go to the primary polls.
As CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported Monday, the Florida U.S. senator believes he's going to "shock" the nation by taking the winner-take-all primary.
"Tomorrow is the day where we're going to shock the country, and it's going to give us the momentum we need to go into Arizona and Utah," Rubio told supporters.
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However, it appears to be an uphill battle for Rubio in his home state as the latest CBS News Battleground Tracker poll shows him looking up to Republican front-runner Donald Trump. The poll has Trump at 44 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 24 percent, Rubio at 21, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich last with 9 percent.
If Rubio doesn't win Florida, there will be intense pressure on him to drop out.
CBS2 reports that over 2 million people have already cast their ballots in the Florida primary.
Florida is not the only state up for grabs Tuesday, as voters will hit the polls in Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina and Illinois.
Kasich, who campaigned Monday with former Republican president nominee Mitt Romney, is hoping to win his home state in an effort to make it harder for Trump to get the delegates he needs to avoid a floor fight at the Republican convention.
"Leadership is not about dividing people and encouraging a toxic environment," Kasich said, taking a shot at Trump's recent violent campaign rallies.
Kasich also said, "I want to be president, but I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land in order to get there."
It's a battle between Kasich and Trump in the Buckeye State as the latest CBS News Battleground Tracker poll showed them in a dead heat at 33 percent each.
Ohio is so important to Trump that the billionaire canceled a rally that was going to be held in Miami Monday night to be in Youngstown instead. During a rally in Hickory, North Carolina, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Trump downplayed the protests and blamed them on Democratic president candidate Bernie Sanders.
"It's a little disruption, but there's no violence, there's none whatsoever," Trump said. "It's a movement and it's a lovefest and we love each other and we're going to do so well."
Trump even needled Kasich for losing the New Hampshire primary to him.
"He's living in New Hampshire. Living where, Chris? Is Chris around? Even more than Chris Christie he was there. I hated to do that, but I had to make my point," Trump said.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio slammed Trump's violent rallies, saying the presidential hopeful is encouraging violence.
"I agree with the statement that he is responsible for what happens at his own rallies, and the message he sent has encouraged violence," the mayor said. "I mean, you've heard him say I'd like to punch that guy in the mouth and, you know, go get that protester. The way his own security personnel have acted has not comported with our Democratic values."
De Blasio added, "This guy's dangerous and I think more and more people are waking up to it."
Cruz is hoping for Rubio and Kasich to do so poorly on Tuesday that he'll be the only one left standing against Trump.
"The way to beat Donald Trump is beat him at the ballot box, which is what we have been doing," the Texas senator said.
On the Democratic side, the polls have former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leading in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, while Illinois and Missouri are tight.
The Vermont senator is not ready to concede anything.
"Let me tell you a secret, we're going to win in Ohio," Sanders said.
Clinton, though, is beginning to focus on the Republicans.
"I am so worried about our country and what could happen if we don't band together,'" she said.
CBS2's Kramer talked with former New York and New Jersey residents who now live in South Florida. Most of them were not supporters of their own U.S. senator Rubio for president, but of current or former New Yorkers.
Howard Marcus, formerly of Manhattan, said he was voting for Trump because, "I think he's the only man who can do it against the organized politics of this country."
Others cast their hopes for the Democratic candidates – both of whom have New York ties.
"I voted already – absentee," said Phyllis Zimmerman, formerly of Brooklyn. "I voted for Bernie - -he's the best one."
Others still were disappointed that former Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided not to run.
"I don't like Bernie Sanders – he's too socialist, and I don't like Hillary – can't trust her. I like what Trump says, but he's not presidential enough," said Evelyn Rothman, formerly of West Orange, New Jersey. "I really want Bloomberg – best guy for the job."
And then there were some who had a certain sense of humor that only someone from the Tri-State Area would have.
"I feel confused. I feel that if there were a monkey that I liked just because he looked good, I would vote for him," said a former Newark resident named Harvey.
There are 358 Republican delegates and 961 Democratic delegates up for grabs Tuesday.