(TruthandLiberty.com) – Political campaigns cost money, a lot of it, especially in high-profile statewide US Senate elections. Incumbency is a powerful tool. It’s tough to beat a sitting US senator. It’s even more challenging if the sitting senator is from a state a presidential candidate last won.
In Florida, Sen. Marco Rubio (R) is running for re-election in 2022. In the third quarter, Rubio raised an impressive $6 million in what could be one of the country’s most expensive campaigns. This year, the Florida Senator raised $12 million toward his bid to hold his Senate seat again. The Democrats hope to flip Florida as they try to maintain their razor-thin 50/50 margin or expand their small majority.
NEW: Rubio rakes in $6 million for reelection bid in latest fundraising quarter https://t.co/j6lzfJnG6O pic.twitter.com/s9lr6d8eYr
— The Hill (@thehill) October 13, 2021
Yet, Florida is proving to be an elusive state for Democrats. Former President Donald Trump won the state in both 2016 and 2020. Pew Research said there’s a direct correlation between which party wins the state in a presidential election and who will win a Senate race. It makes sense because both are statewide elections. Florida is even more challenging. Its governor is a Republican, as are its Senators; the majority of US Representatives and the state legislature are also Republican-dominated.
With 10 strong media markets, a diverse population and a lot of land to cover, Rubio will need every dollar he can get to compete with Democrats targeting his seat. Still, if things go well, he could be cruising to re-election.
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