Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is widely considered to be among the top contenders vying to be Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate this November. The biggest question is … why?
Depending on how you measure it, Rubio isn’t as big a sycophant as Sen. Ted Cruz. And that’s the list of what’s good about Rubio.
He’s still willing to act as a mouthpiece for Trump, even when defending the most egregious statements. He’s still standard filler on networks that are seeking a Republican who will appear between more important speakers without threatening to make anything that looks like news. He’s willing to help Trump prep for his upcoming debate, presumably by allowing Trump to hone his insults.
But the Marco Rubio of 2024 seems like a sad shadow of the man who was actually at the center of his party a few years ago. Trump’s biggest reason for keeping him close might just be the joy he finds in lording over broken enemies.