Chicago Tribune Endorses Marco Rubio for President
Marco Rubio for the GOP, but no endorsement for either Democrat
By Chicago Tribune Editorial Board
Chicago Tribune
March 9, 2016
http://trib.in/1USUWKM
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No candidate in this cycle has ridden more ups and downs than Marco Rubio. With so much attention paid to quirks — his debate repetitions, his perspiration, even his choice of boots — many Republicans seem not to have noticed his fundamental GOP message of opportunity and uplift. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation calculated that the tax plan Rubio floated with Sen. Mike Lee would raise after-tax incomes for the bottom 10 percent of earners by 44 percent, chiefly via expanded credits. Spending limits, line-item veto, a balanced-budget amendment — all Rubio policy pillars. Crucially, his foreign affairs expertise vastly exceeds that of his rivals. We like his youth, his bilingual fluency and the fact that he isn't one more Republican who's been standing in line, awaiting his turn to run.
Right here is where liberal and conservative critics fire howitzers at this or that Rubio drawback. We look forward to debating those points in a general election campaign. But we won't be able to do so if Trump or Cruz is the nominee. The Tribune today endorses Marco Rubio for the Republican presidential nomination.
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Our final word — for now:
Agree or disagree with Marco Rubio on various issues, he offers Illinois voters the framework of a presidency that realistically could exist. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have not met this fundamental economic test. We're keeping an open mind, hoping that whichever of them prevails will meet that test in the general election campaign. Because promises, pledges and policies mean nothing to a gravely indebted American government that can afford only to window-shop.
In the Republican primary contest, the Tribune endorses Marco Rubio. In the Democratic contest, no endorsement.
