Marco Rubio, Florida’s Republican Senatorial candidate, is describing reports of President Bill Clinton’s attempt to talk his opponent out of the race as “a reminder of everything that’s wrong with politics in Washington.”
“This is basically an attempt to rig a backroom deal,” Rubio said during an appearance Friday on Fox News. “This is exactly what’s wrong in American politics today.”
According to a report from Politico, Clinton came close to securing Democrat Kendrick Meek’s departure from the race, a move that would clear the field for moderate independent candidate Charlie Crist, who is currently trailing Rubio. Meek follows behind both.
Rubio’s camp also sent out an email questioning the White House’s involvement in the negotiations.
“We … know that Crist personally talked with Clinton’s senior adviser and the White House,” the email reads. “But here’s what we don’t know: 1. What specifically did the White House know about this deal? 2. Who at the White House did Crist talk to? 3. Was the White House aware that Crist had agreed to caucus with the Democrats in exchange for Meek dropping out?”
The White House came under fire from Republicans earlier in the year when reports surfaced that Clinton had tried to convince Pennsylvania Democrat Joe Sestak to drop a primary challenge against Arlen Specter in exchange for an advisory position.
Clinton did not offer Meek a job, according to a Democratic source cited by Politico. Instead, Clinton reportedly argued that the decision would help open up future opportunities for Meek.