This is going to be a short diary about the FL Senate race, but I saw the Fox News clip about Marco Rubio. I have to say that, in his opening message on Fox, he came off very sharp and well-rounded. In the minute or so that the reporter was interviewing him he stayed on message and got his points out clearly.
I agree that Crist is still the overwhelming favorite here, but I think that he better not take the primary for granted. I think that the "activist base" of the GOP does not like Crist. And his lead right now is soft. More beenath the fold.
The other thing is that Rubio is a Cuban-American. And I am sure that, much like African Americans felt about the IL Senate seat, they may view the seat that Martinez is vacating as "theirs". Cuban Americans are an important part of the FL GOP base. If Ilena Ros-Lehtien and the Diaz-Balarts support Rubio then he might have a strong advantage in Little Havana. Also the fact that Rubio is Hispanic will help his appeal among conservative Latinos.
The wildcard may be Jeb Bush, who apparently likes Rubio. I think that, while he may not endorse Rubio publicly, he might encourage his supporters to donate to Rubio privately. But then again I could be completely wrong.
Anyway, though, I wouldn't count Rubio out. He looks young, charismatic, and dynamic. If he can get funding from right-wing groups and the Club for Growth I think that he'll give Crist a run for his money. I could be totally wrong, but the GOP seems more ideologically strident than the Democrats.