New York Times endorses Rubio’s rival

The New York Times editorial board on Saturday endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) Democratic challenger Rep. Patrick Murphy, calling him a “far superior” Senate candidate.

The newspaper argued that “Florida voters should support” Murphy, adding, “defeating Mr. Rubio, who earned a reputation on Capitol Hill as a disengaged lawmaker who skipped scores of key votes and hearings, shouldn’t be the only motive.

{mosads}”Mr. Murphy’s positions on climate change — an issue that Mr. Rubio seems deeply ignorant about — gay rights, gun control and comprehensive immigration reform make him by far a superior representative for Floridians,” the editorial reads.

“Mr. Murphy has also challenged Mr. Rubio’s obstinate support for the failed embargo on Cuba, which puts him on the right side of history and, increasingly, public opinion in Florida,” it stated.

BREAKING: the New York Times backs our campaign for U.S. Senate! #FLSen @nytimes https://t.co/dIfN7cUrXr pic.twitter.com/WehjhJnZfE

— Patrick Murphy (@PatrickMurphyFL) October 22, 2016

The newspaper noted that the Florida Senate race is one of the most crucial contests of the election season that is surprisingly close due to the changing attitudes of Cuban-Americans voters.

“The changing Latino electorate is the key factor, with Cuban-Americans, who once swung reliably Republican, increasingly up for grabs, particularly younger voters who are more socially liberal than their parents and less dogmatic about the Cuban embargo,” the editors argued.

The editorial board also agreed with Murphy’s assessment that Rubio is “someone who has put his own political ambitions ahead of what he really believes in.”

“That is true, and a shame. If the Republican Party wants to shore up its eroding base in Florida in the post-Trump era, it will need fresh blood and forward-thinking politicians who are in step with voters on social issues and are willing to move past the Cold War,” the newspaper concluded.