WASHINGTON — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has tried to make his name in the Republican presidential field, in part by touting himself as prepared to deal with America’s security challenges.
But on Wednesday, his rivals smelled political blood in the water when the first-term lawmaker, who has risen in Republican presidential polls, missed another classified briefing for all senators — this time about America’s role in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.
Rubio was instead on his way to Newport Beach, Calif., where he was scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the home of businessman Jim Glidewell — an event in which tickets ranged from $1,000 to $2,700 per person.
“Apparently fundraising in Southern California is more important to politician Rubio than protecting the homeland,” an aide to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s presidential campaign said.
Christina Freundlich, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, said in an email to reporters, “While the rest of the world is focused on the terror attacks in Paris, Rubio is skipping critical briefings on national security to focus on high-dollar fundraisers.”
