Of all the charges against Marco Rubio, is saying that he’s too pro-life in the middle of the GOP primary process really the best angle?
Mike Murphy — head of the Jeb Bush Super PAC “Right to Rise” — seems to think so:
https://twitter.com/murphymike/status/695266503545921536
https://twitter.com/murphymike/status/695268765815037952
Good luck with that. Also, what Murphy is saying isn’t really true:
False. Rubio personally doesn't support exceptions, but would sign legislation with exceptions if he needed to. https://t.co/avb0kniu1H
— Erik Brooks (@ChipBrooks17) February 4, 2016
@murphymike He has said he would back provisions for them, despite his personal beliefs. But you knew that.
— Joy (@JoyBells87) February 4, 2016
@murphymike uh ok if u say so
— MJB (@WigglesPalmer) February 4, 2016
@murphymike didn't realize @JebBush was pro-choice! Good to know thx #Marcomentum
— Aileen Alvarez Diana (@amdiana) February 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/jeanpaulbondy/status/695270683769614336
.@murphymike Maybe you should put "Rubio is too pro-life" on your next billboard.
— Just Some Doc (@forbiddencomma) February 4, 2016
Although former Obama hack Dan Pfeiffer agrees with Murphy, if that helps:
This is right, Rubio's position is a killer with women, independents and young voters. Incredibly vulnerable https://t.co/PJ7eEemTJ2
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) February 4, 2016
The Weekly Standard’s John McCormack doesn’t think Murphy’s attack will work though:
1. Will attacking Rubio for taking Reagan's position on abortion work in a GOP primary? https://t.co/K9ZseTcXRt https://t.co/gSVOfjCOfO
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) February 4, 2016
He writes:
Although Rubio opposes these exceptions in principle, he has made it clear he’s willing to accept them in practice. And the only pro-life legislation that has a plausible chance of landing on a President Rubio’s desk–popular bills banning taxpayer-funded and late-term abortion–include those exceptions.
Expressing opposition to an exception for abortion in these circumstances has not, by itself, proven to be toxic for many political candidates. Rubio himself won the swing state of Florida while holding this position in 2010. Paul Ryan, who takes the same position as Rubio, won his swing congressional district repeatedly. Scott Walker was hammered explicitly on the issue of abortion exceptions in 2010, 2012, and 2014 and he scored solid victories each time in a Democratic-leaning state.
Exactly.
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