With Senator Marco Rubio still deciding on whether or not to run in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, politicos from all corners of the nation are trying to guess who will step up and replace the junior senator from West Miami, Florida, if he decides to leave the U.S. Senate
The one name that comes to mind-an obvious choice, in my opinion- is Florida CFO Jeff Atwater.During the 2012 presidential election cycle, Atwater told the Shark Tank that he was seriously considering jumping into the Republican Senate primary race against then-candidate Rep. Connie Mack, who eventually became the nominee, but lost to incumbent Senator Bill Nelson (D).
As the weeks roll by, and Rubio continues signal that he is moving forward with a run in 2016, its seems almost certain that Rubio will in fact run for president. According to several of Rubio’s close friends and allies, a Rubio presidential campaign “is going to happen.”
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Atwater would seem like a natural choice for Republicans to support for Rubio’s potential open Senate seat, if Rubio does make the run.
But is Atwater thinking about make a run for the U.S. Senate, if the opportunity presented itself? You betcha!
Atwater is at the annual CPAC convention in Washington, D.C., pressing the flesh, meeting with key Republican and conservative operatives, as well as with friendly media types that he will need to help him disseminate his campaign message.The Shark Tank can confirm that Atwater has stopped into the National Republican Senatorial Committee to talk shop, and word is that the NRSC is feeling all warm and fuzzy about the prospect of a possible Atwater Senate run.
Several other potential Republican Senate candidates are also said to be considering a run for the Senate should Rubio to decided to vacate his seat, including popular Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis, and congressional newbie, Rep. Curt Clawson, who have both been calling around and testing the Senate waters.
The big question that grassroots activists, donors, and politicos will now be asking is, can Jeff Atwater be able to orchestrate the type of statewide campaign needed to win this all important Senate seat?
The answer to that question is a resounding ‘yes.’
Atwater has already proven himself to be one of the most popular statewide politicians by running and winning both of his statewide CFO races.So, while his name identification across Florida is second to none, does Atwater has also proven to have fundraising prowess needed to win this all-important Senate seat?
Back when Atwater was mulling over a primary challenge against Connie Mack, the Republicans “King-makers” in Northeast Florida, which included some of Rubio’s key donors, all lined up to support his potential run for the Senate.
Last weekend at the annual Duval County Republican Lincoln Day dinner in Jacksonville, Florida, several of these “King-makers” and money men told me that they would still support an Atwater Senate run.
Again, Rubio still hasn’t made up his mind as to what he is actually going to do, but the fact that Atwater is seriously and proactively testing the Senate waters this early, signals to me that if and when Rubio decides to run for president and vacate his Senate seat, Atwater will already be in position to kick his Senate campaign into second gear.