DES MOINES, Iowa—With a nationally focused campaign that leans on strong debate performances and television advertising, Marco Rubio isn’t going all out in any one of the early voting states.
That’s raised eyebrows among Republicans in states such as Iowa, where people are used to being lavished with attention in a presidential campaign.
The Florida senator was back in Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 29, for a multiday swing, hoping to shore up support and finish in the top tier of candidates in the Feb. 1 caucuses.
But he is continuing to spread his time and money across the early states, showing no indication that he will choose just one to make his mark.
That’s unlike Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has set his sights on Iowa, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is pushing hard in New Hampshire.
While supporters say Rubio just needs to stay in the top cluster in the first few states, some see the approach as risky.
“The caucuses are about organize, organize, organize, and get hot at the end,” said Iowa Republican strategist Doug Gross, who has not endorsed a candidate. But as for Rubio and his people, “I think they’ve intentionally tried to run a different campaign.”
In another early voting state, South Carolina, former Republican Party chair Karen Floyd described Rubio’s approach as “curious,” saying his organization there has not been as visible as several of his rivals.
