Influential Christian leader suggests Rubio should sit out 2016

YH Bob Vander Plaats

Bob Vander Plaats, the president of The Family Leader — which is holding it summit in Ames, Iowa this weekend — suggested Marco Rubio should consider taking a pass on the 2016 presidential race because of his involvement in bipartisan immigration reform legislation.

Some in Iowa, he adds, are saying, “’2016’s out for Rubio, there’s no way.’”

“But they don’t consider him done,” Vander Plaats continues. “’16’s going to be awfully tough for him. ’20, if he wanted to run, might be a better opportunity.”

Rubio did not accept the group’s invitation to address the conservative summit because, asThe RUN first reported this week, the Florida freshman has decided against any early presidential primary state travel this year.

In The RUN/cygnal July Iowa poll, Rubio barely clung to a lead over Rand Paul — who is also skipping this weekend’s summit — but a plurality of respondents were unsure who they liked for president.


Follow Dave’s blog at TheRun2016.com

Recent in Uncategorized

The Alabama Republican Party elected State Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) as chairman Saturday following a three-way race that went to a runoff at the party’s 2026 Winter Meeting in Hoover. Stadthagen, former House Majority Leader John Merrill, and Joan Reynolds competed for the position, which opened following John Wahl’s recent resignation to run for Lt. […]

As February begins, many Alabamians start planning how to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The state offers a wide range of romantic destinations, and one Orange Beach restaurant has earned national recognition — Voyagers at Perdido Beach Resort has been named to OpenTable’s 2026 Top 100 Romantic Restaurants list. According to OpenTable, the annual list is compiled […]