Rubio: Immigration Not Latinos' #1 Issue
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio may be the fastest rising star in the GOP and he used his clout Thursday to argue that immigration was no longer the most important topic among immigrants.
The comments on CBS This Morning came one day after Rubio blasted Newt Gingrich for his television ad that called Mitt Romney anti-immigrant. The ads were later pulled after Rubio's criticism throughout Thursday.
"I wouldn't characterize it as a scolding," Rubio said of his conversations over the Gingrich ad. He also said he was a Newt Gingrich "admirer."
Rubio asserted on CBS that economic security is paramount to immigration in the minds of Hispanics.
Romney has drawn criticism from some immigration activists for having Kris Kobach so prominent in his campaign. Kobach is currently the Kansas secretary of state, but is also the architect of the highly controversial Arizona immigration law.
The Romney campaign has called for a form of "self-deportation" by barring illegal immigrants from working so that declining employment might force them to return to their home country. Gingrich has slammed the idea and said it's not based in reality.
Gingrich said his immigrant policy is more "humane" and would allow the U.S. to provide a path to residency, but not full citizenship to some workers. In addition, Gingrich said that he would support the DREAM Act's provision that would allow immigrants to serve in the military to gain residency to the U.S.
And while Rubio may only be a freshman, he's already learned the art of the dodge when he's asked about possibly being a vice-presidential candidate.
Senator Rubio sidestepped questions on CBS This Morning Thursday when he was asked whether he would consider running as a vice-president.
He did say he didn't expect the nominee to pick him, but said he was excited to work for the ticket heading towards November's general election.
