What advantages would Marco Rubio have over Hillary Clinton in the general election? originally appeared on Quora: The best answer to any question.
Answer by Thomas Hepner, aspiring data scientist and entrepreneur, on Quora.
1. Relatable Personal Story:
Marco Rubio's humble personal story will likely resonate with voters. He is the son of two immigrants from Cuba; his father worked as a bartender and his mother as a maid. He financed his own education through student loans which he did not completely pay off for 16 years:
It took Marco Rubio 16 years and a book deal to pay off his student loans
2. Minority Voters:
In 2008 and 2012, minority voters overwhelmingly sided with President Obama. In 2012, 93% of black voters, and 71% of Hispanic voters, sided with Obama. In addition, 2012 was the first election where black voter turn-out was higher than white voter turn-out. In 2016, the Democratic advantage with minorities will likely weaken as (1) Marco Rubio won 60% of the non-Cuban Hispanic vote in the 2010 Florida Senate election whereas Mitt Romney, (2) Rubio will likely have a lot of credence with Latino voters as he was a co-sponsor the Gang of Eight comprehensive reform bill that passed the Senate, and (3) Obama, the first black president will no longer be a candidate; it seems unlikely that Hilary will be able to generate the same turn-out and enthusiasm with black voters that Obama did.
President Exit Polls
3. Furious and Energized Conservative Base:
In 2010, the GOP took back the House with the greatest reversal in Representatives since the Truman years. In 2014, the GOP strengthened its position in the House and took back the Senate. Both of these outcomes were largely a product of higher turnout among the conservative base (The Tea Party wave). Conservatives are furious about the Affordable Care Act, and were enraged by the TARP bail-outs and the federal government stimulus package. Conservative turn-out in 2016 will likely be much higher this election cycle than in 2012 as there will be a higher perceived probability of reversing these policies.
4. Defending Obama's 3rd Term:
Due to Hilary's strong association with the Obama Administration as she was Obama's Secretary of State until 2012, she will not be able to distance herself from President Obama. Whether she likes it or not, she will very much be running for Obama's 3rd term. Since the beginning of 2013, overall Obama's approval ratings have been in the mid 40s so this appears to be a liability for Hilary Clinton.
RealClearPolitics - Election Other - President Obama Job Approval
This liability sharpens when examining foreign policy. Only 20% of Americans support the Iran deal, and Obama's approval ratings on foreign policy are in the mid 30s.
RealClearPolitics - Election Other - President Obama Job Approval - Foreign Policy
5. Swing-State Florida:
Candidates typically win the state they are from. In this case, Marco Rubio is from Florida, a critical swing-state, that has great influence on the outcome in the electoral college.
6. Youth:
Rubio is 44 years old; Hilary Clinton is 68.
Studies Find a Candidate's Looks Matter
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