Marco Rubio won the endorsement of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, a leading Virginia newspaper, on Sunday.
“Except in extraordinary circumstances, The Times-Dispatch refrains from making endorsements in nominating contests if the general election in November will be competitive. But these qualify as extraordinary times, at least in the realm of presidential politics,” the board writes.
“Electing Trump, casino owner and reality TV star, would be an unacceptably risky roll of the dice,” the RTD’s editorial board writes.
“Marco Rubio boasts a compelling life story — the son of Cuban immigrants who worked their way to the American Dream. We live in an era that needs more tales of success, in a welcoming country, built on sacrifice, effort, and integrity,” the paper says.
The editorial also dismissed the campaign of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
“When we examine [Cruz’s] specific policies, they often do not match his rhetoric,” the editorial board writes. “He claims, for instance, that his tax proposals would spur economic growth, limit government and eliminate the IRS. Yet the centerpiece of his plan is a tax remarkably similar to the European value-added tax that has enabled the rapid expansion of continental tax collections and a meddling bureaucracy.”
The paper also faulted the Democratic candidates for president.
“We find the continuing ethical lapses of Hillary Clinton unacceptable and the economic proposals of Bernie Sanders absurd,” the editorial board writes.
The endorsement could give Rubio a small boost ahead of the March 1 GOP primary of Virginia, where some polls show the Florida senator within striking distance of Trump.
In the immediate future, Rubio hopes to hold his home state of Florida on March 15 and score wins in states like Virginia.
Trump is expected to easily win most states with GOP primaries on March 1, known as “Super Tuesday.”
