DES MOINES — Time is running out, and with only 25 days until voting kicks off in Iowa, Sen. Marco Rubio is trying to lay claim within the minds of caucus-goers.
Despite polling dominance from Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, who have stood atop the GOP field in the state over a month and a half, Rubio — who held a town hall in Marshalltown Wednesday morning — is continuing to make the Iowa caucus a priority. He has spent most of the past three days in the state and held five town halls during that time.
The trip also comes in the midst of continued attacks from Republican primary opponents, especially those trailing him in the polls. Chris Christie, previously blasted as President Obama’s “favorite Republican governor” by the pro-Rubio super PAC Conservative Solutions, has relentlessly bashed the Florida senator.
Despite having vowed to remain neutral in the race, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix admitting he has started to turn ever-so slightly toward Rubio.
“I think the senator understands what he wants to do and what he needs to do [in Iowa],” said Dix, who introduced the Florida senator at Wednesday’s event, although he has not formally endorsed him.
“Clearly for me, I’ve said to my caucus when the whole presidential season started that I’m not going to get involved personally in these races,” Dix said, but he acknowledged it’s “telling” that he came out to stump for Rubio. “He’s a great guy, and I know it’d be helpful to our efforts if we had Sen. Rubio at the top of the ticket.”
Rubio’s stop Wednesday made it 19 events in Iowa since the beginning of December, the third most of any candidate, when he began barnstorming the early voting states. In that time frame, only former caucus winners Mike Huckabee (43 events) and Rick Santorum (20 events) have been in the state more frequently. Ted Cruz who is in the midst of a six-day, 28-stop bus tour, is set to surpass him with four more stops Thursday during a swing north of Des Moines.
Potential caucus-goers liked what they saw in Rubio during the course of the trip, with one supporter comparing him to a charismatic young politician from the nation’s past.
“I’ve been waiting for over 50 years for the Republican JFK show up, and he’s here now. He’s full of great ideas. For one thing, to restore the American dream, which I lived myself, which I would like my kids to have the opportunities that I had myself,” said Ed Enright, 71, who plans to caucus for Rubio. “I also believe he’s very sincere about everything he’s saying. He’s not your typical politician, really.”
While Rubio naturally tends to attract a right-leaning crowd, his tagline of a “New American Century” is also appealing to young voters, including those of different political shades. According to a recent poll, Rubio is tied Hillary Clinton for the youth vote, which could prove decisive in both the primary and the general election.
“I’m still kind of up in the air, I don’t know who I’m going to vote for. Rubio definitely convinced me a little bit more today,” said Meredith Hamilton, 21, who said she usually votes for Democrats. When asked what she found attractive about Rubio, Hamilton pointed to Rubio’s ability to communicate effectively, pointing to a “magnetism” that others don’t possess.
“There’s something about Rubio,” she continued. “I think Rubio has a magnetism to him that the other Republicans don’t have, and that a lot of Democratic candidates don’t have. Hillary, I really don’t like that much.”
Rubio is set to campaign Thursday in New Hampshire, where he’ll be campaigning in alongside Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who endorsed the senator Wednesday morning.
