For Republicans, Fight For Florida May Come Down To Two-Man Race
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Florida Senator Marco Rubio cast his ballot at West Miami City Hall Wednesday, the same small government building where he got his political start in 1998.
"It's an incredible privilege and honor to be able to vote for myself as President just a few blocks from where I grew up," he said.
Despite only winning one state on Super Tuesday, he's sounding positive about his chances in Florida. "It's a big state, and it's my home, and we feel great about it."
Republican analyst, and former Jeb Bush campaign frontman Justin Sayfie underscored the point that Florida may be do or die for the Rubio camp. Rubio's already announced the plan to open campaign offices in Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa on Thursday.
"To win his home state, that would give his campaign a huge boost, if he's able to do it."
But that may be a challenge. Various polls show him in second place behind Donald Trump.
"Second place gains you no delegates in Florida, so if Marco Rubio isn't able to win Florida outright, he won't take any delegates outright," Sayfie told CBS4's Natalia Zea.
Sayfie also doesn't know whether former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will give an endorsement before Florida's primary March 15th.
All the candidates would like to win the 99 delegates up for grabs. But Sayfie believes on the Republican side, Ted Cruz and John Kasich may skip Florida altogether.
"Rubio and Trump are the two front-runners in Florida and it's such a big, expensive state you can take the resources you put into Florida and you can spread them around in three other states for the amount of money you would spend trying to win Florida," said Sayfie.
Voter-rich Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach may specifically may be at the center of the campaign action.
"I would say for sure they need to focus on voters' concerns in South Florida."
