Iowa is Rubio Country

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's campaign schedule, Part 3

August 24, 2016
-Flight to Washington D.C.
-Senate duties in Washington D.C.

August 25, 2016
-Senate duties in Washington D.C.

August 26, 2016
-Senate duties in Washington D.C.

August 27, 2016
-Rally at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH
-Speech at Southern Theatre in Columbus, OH
-Economic policy speech at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
-Speech at Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, OH
-Agricultural speech at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, OH
-Bus trip to Cincinnati, OH
-Speech at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH, in an effort to attract African-American voters
-Meet with college voters at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH
-Freedom of religion speech at the Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, OH, in an effort to woo Jewish voters
-Speech at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH

August 28-29, 2016
-Flight to Miami, Florida
-Meet with voters in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL

August 30, 2016
-Fundraising event at Santa Fe Opera in Santa Fe, New Mexico
-Immigration policy speech in Santa Fe, NM
-Rally in Santa Fe, NM, alongside Brian Sandoval
-Speech at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe, NM
-Economic policy speech at Intel Corporation facility in Rio Rancho, NM
-Rally at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, NM
-Speech at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce in Albuquerque, NM, in an effort to attract Hispanic voters by describing the economic benefits of free trade with Latin America, education reform and immigration reform on the Hispanic community
-Speech at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM, in an effort to attract Hispanic voters
-Rally at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, NM
-Meet with college voters at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM
-Free trade policy speech in Albuquerque, NM

August 31, 2016
-Speech in reaction to Dilma Rousseff's impeachment :

Today, we learned that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been impeached by the Brazilian Senate for corruption and for breaking this country's budget laws while Brazil is living in one of the worst recessions in its history. I congratulate new President Michel Temer for taking the responsibility of leading this country. I wish him good luck for to get this country in the right direction, to keep this country united, to grow the Brazilian economy and bring integrity back in the Brazilian government. That's how the Brazilian people will reclaim trust in their government and that's how this people will finally be united.

That story demonstrates that such thing could happen everywhere in the world, even here in America, especially with a candidate who lied to the American people about why Americans died in Benghazi and deleted over 30 000 emails to make sure that American authorities will never have access to these emails in order to allow the American people to know the truth. When I'm President of the United States, we will put an end to corruption.

-Foreign policy speech at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM
-Economic policy speech at PNM Resources in Albuquerque, NM
-Energy policy speech at New Mexico Solar Energy Association in Albuquerque, NM
-Bus trip to Las Cruces, NM   
-Meet with college voters at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM
-Rally at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, NM
-Agriculture policy speech at Hispanic Farmers & Ranchers in Las Cruces, NM
-Economic policy speech at Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Las Cruces, NM
-Flight to Miami, Florida to watch the results of the Florida Republican Senate primary

 

Nikki Haley's campaign schedule

August 12-August 31, 2016
-Campaign in Ohio, Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pennsylvania

[UWS]

New polls

General election polls

Hillary Clinton vs Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio : 52 %
Hillary Clinton : 46 %
Undecided : 2 %

Statewide opinion polls

Ohio

Marco Rubio : 54 %
Hillary Clinton : 40 %
Undecided : 6 %

Florida

Marco Rubio : 55 %
Hillary Clinton : 39 %
Undecided : 6 %

North Carolina

Marco Rubio : 51 %
Hillary Clinton : 44 %
Undecided : 5 %

Virginia

Hillary Clinton : 50 %

Marco Rubio : 47 %

Undecided : 2 %

Pennsylvania

Hillary Clinton : 50 %

Marco Rubio : 47 %
Undecided : 3 %

New Hampshire

Marco Rubio : 50 %

Hillary Clinton : 48 %
Undecided : 2 %

Michigan

Marco Rubio : 51 %

Hillary Clinton : 47 %

Undecided : 2 %

Wisconsin

Marco Rubio : 51 %

Hillary Clinton : 45 %

Undecided : 4 %

Minnesota

Hillary Clinton : 51 %

Marco Rubio : 47 %

Undecided : 2 %

Iowa

Marco Rubio : 52 %
Hillary Clinton : 42 %
Undecided : 6 %

Colorado

Marco Rubio : 54 %
Hillary Clinton : 42 %
Undecided : 4 %

Nevada

Marco Rubio : 53 %
Hillary Clinton : 43 %
Undecided : 4 %

New Mexico

Hillary Clinton : 48 %

Marco Rubio : 47 %

Undecided : 4 %

Electoral College map

Marco Rubio : 300 great electors
Hillary Clinton : 186 great electors
Toss-ups : 52 great electors

[UWS]

On the campaign trail

New endorsements

This week, Senator Marco Rubio, the Republican presidential nominee, received a major endorsement. Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State Under George W. Bush and advocate of Bush's hawkish foreign policy, who endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, has decided to endorse the Florida Senator, describing him as the « strongest leader in almost 4 decades » and as « the candidate with the best plan to defeat terrorism and ensure international peace. »

Paris climate deal : US and China formally join pact

On September 3, the United States and China, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, have both formally joined the Paris global climate agreement.

After arriving with other leaders of G20 nations for a summit in the city of Hangzhou, President Obama said: "History will judge today's effort as pivotal."

CO2 emissions are the driving force behind climate change. Last December, countries agreed to cut emissions in a bid to keep the global average rise in temperatures below 2C.

New nuclear test orchestrated by North Korea

On September 9, the government of North Korea conducts its fifth and reportedly biggest nuclear test. World leaders condemn the act, with the South calling it "maniacal recklessness".

Bad day for Hillary Clinton

At a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony, Clinton faints and falls to the ground. It's later announced that she's suffering from pneumonia.

Her Republican opponent Marco Rubio wishes her a speedy recovery and hopes she'll be recovered in time for the first presidential debate set on September 26 2016.

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's campaign schedule, Part 1

September 1-2, 2016
-Campaign in Miami, Tampa and Orlando, Florida

September 3, 2016
-Flight to Cincinnati, Ohio
-Meet with voters in Cincinnati, Ohio
-Rally with voters at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio
-Manufacturing policy speech at GE Aviation headquarters in Evandale, Ohio
-Meet with voters in Dayton, Ohio
-Meet with college voters at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio

September 4, 2016
-Campaign in Columbus, Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio

September 5, 2016
-Meet with voters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-Energy policy speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-Meet with college voters at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-Speech at the American Jewish Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-Campaign in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

September 6, 2016
-Senate duties in Washington D.C.

September 7, 2016
-Senate duties in Washington D.C.

September 8-9, 2016
-Campaign in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota with Nikki Haley
-Foreign policy speech in reaction to the recent nuclear test orchestrated by North Korea :

This is the biggest nuclear test North Korea made.

North Korea has become much more dangerous than ever before and Kim Jong-un is seeking to develop Pyongyang's nuclear program in order to trigger nuclear attacks against South Korea, our allies and us. We can't let that happen.

My plan to fight the threat from North Korea has five basic points :

Number one, putting North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terror. They should never have been removed from that list since they supported terrorist activities such as the 1987 bombing of Korean Air flight 858, gave asylum to Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction members, orchestrated the Rangoon bombing in 1983, which was an assassination attempt against former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan, and are now developing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction to attack us and our allies. But they can be put back on that list and that's what I will do as President of the United States.

Number two, additional sanctions especially on their leadership who holds significant assets overseas. They need to be punished individually because while that country has no economy, their leaders are very wealthy and are putting their nuclear arsenal ahead of the needs of the North Korean people, using most of their money to reinforce their oppressive regime and to empower their nuclear program.

Number three, as provided in my co-sponsored North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, we have to impose sanctions on any individual, company or bank around the world that serve as financial intermediaries for dollar transactions to North Korea to help this tyrannical and corrupt regime to evade U.N. sanctions and to fund the development of North Korean nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. That way, we can stop North Korea from getting such a powerful arsenal.

Number four, we need to rebuild our military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region. And that includes Japan, South Korea and others. That's why, in order to maintain peace and security on the Pacific, I proposed the creation of a NATO-like military association that I call Pacific Treaty Organization (PTO), but that would include the United States and its allies around the Pacific, especially Canada, Japan, South Korea and Australia. It goes back to the point I made about our navy. Our navy is technologically very capable, but our ships still cannot be in two places at once. So you can't provide the level of security we need in the Asia-Pacific region with the smallest navy in a hundred years, not to mention the issues we have with China in the South China Sea. So rebuilding our military, especially our navy, and reinforcing our navy's presence in the Asia-Pacific region in particular is critically important.

Number five, we need to recommit to missile defense. North Korea already possesses intercontinental missiles capable of reaching Hawaii, Guam and maybe even Alaska as well as the West Coast of the United States. We need a comprehensive missile defense system for the entire continental United States, both West Coast ad East Coast, as well as for Alaska and Hawaii in order to guard against the Iranian threat and also to guard against the North Korean threat. And that's a multi-faceted defense system. It involves naval assets near and theater and includes working with the Japanese that have a very capable navy it also includes missile defense units deployed both on the East Coast and West Coast because if trends continue, this lunatic and tyrannical leader in North Korea will possess a missile and a warhead capable of reaching the United States and we better be able to shoot it down before it gets anywhere near us and we need to invest and recommit to that again for the sake of America's security and international peace and stability. That way, the Pacific Ocean will remain pacific.


September 10, 2016
-Campaign throughout Iowa
-Economic policy speech in Des Moines, Iowa :


For many years, including today, Forbes Magazine ranked Des Moines among the top 10 of the best places in America to do business. And in 2010 and 2013, this city was ranked at the first place, which means it was described as the best place to do business in the United States.

This is mostly due to strong educational attainment (with 36 % of Des Moines' population who has a college degree and 92 % of this city's population who possesses a high school diploma) and also because energy costs here are 22 % below the national average, the cost of living in Des Moines is 10 % below the national average and business costs here are 18 % below the national average. Economic growth here outpaced the U.S. as a whole by 68 % since 2010. Here is an example of this matter of fact : Des Moines is a major center for the insurance industry and has a sizable financial services and publishing business base. And Des Moines is the headquarters for the Principal Financial Group, Meredith Corp., Ruan Transportation, EMC Insurance, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, MidAmerican Energy Company and Firestone Agricultural Tire Company.

So Des Moines is a great symbol of America's prosperity coming from free enterprise and free market as well as ingenuity, hard-work and entrepreneurship of the American people. Prosperity does not come from big government policies. But unfortunately, over the last eight years, government has got bigger and bigger and is still getting bigger today, which increased taxes and regulations on the American people and on business owners, which weakened our economy, killed jobs and offshored American businesses overseas. We have a 40 % corporate tax rate, which makes the United States the nation with the highest corporate tax rate among developed countries, which makes America a harder place to do business, while Singapore has a 17 % corporate tax rate and South Korea's is at 24 %.

Des Moines represents a great example of the importance of making America the best place in the world to do business, which requires fully utilizing our energy resources, bringing our debt under control, repealing and replacing Obamacare, making higher education faster and easier to access, reducing the cost of doing business in America and cutting taxes and regulations on the American people and on business owners, which will bring a stronger purchasing power to our people and increase our businesses' ability to grow, to expand, to produce, to sell, to hire people and to create jobs. And by reducing our corporate tax rate to 20 %, we will make American businesses much more competitive in the world economy, which will ensure job creation here in the United States.

These are all things we will do when I become President of the United States. I have the right experience to boost job creation in America and to lead this country to permanent prosperity due to my membership in the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and in the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

That is how we will ensure a new American prosperity in a New American Century.

Thank you. God bless you and God bless America.

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's campaign schedule, Part 2

September 11, 2016
-Flight to New York City, New York
-Marco Rubio visits the National September 11 Memorial & Museum where he gives a speech for the 19th commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks :



Fifteen years ago, on September 11 2001, the United States of America suffered the worst attack in their history. The World Trade Center came down, another plane hit the Pentagon and Flight 93's target was either the White House or the Capitol. But Flight 93's passengers sacrificed their lives in order to stop another terrorist attack from being committed by revolting against the terrorists controlling the plane and by making this plane crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania , thus saving many lives as well as the American democracy.

Many families suffered and cried from the loss of their beloved ones. We have give our support to these families through social services to make sure they will face 9/11's sequellae more effectively. Many of 9/11's victims had all their lives ahead of them and had many stages of life to achieve : getting through school, graduation, integration into workforce, wedding, giving birth to children, earning a living and living the American Dream. But sadly, Al Qaida took these lives. These terrorist attacks were an offense committed against the American Dream, democracy, justice and freedom.

But after 9/11, we fought back by declaring war on international terror, by reinforcing our security measures, by reinforcing our military and our partnerships with our allies and by intervening militarily in Afghanistan, thus toppling the tyrannical Taliban regime and destroying Al Qaida's bases. Then, our brave soldiers killed Osama Bin Laden, the responsible of 9/11 attacks. While Bin Laden's death is one of our greatest victories against terrorism, the job is not yet completed. We have to keep fighting terrorism through security, stronger military and stronger alliances. We will also do this by securing strategic zones and by making sure that the state sponsors of terrorism like Syria and Iran will never ever get nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction. That way, we can prevent another 9/11 from happening.

United we stand, divided we fall. Thanks to strength, solidarity and collaboration, we will defeat ISIS, Al Qaida and international terrorism for the sake of security, freedom, justice, democracy and peace.

Thank you, God bless 9/11's victims and their families and God bless the United States of America.

-After learning about Hillary Clinton's pneumonia, Marco Rubio wished her a speedy recovery and hopes she'll be recovered in time for the first presidential debate set on September 26 2016.

September 12, 2016

-Interview with Jimmy Fallon at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City, NY


Fallon : Ladies and gentlemen please welcome the Republican nominee for President of the United States Marco Rubio.

Rubio : Thank you Jimmy.

Fallon : How are you doing?

Rubio : Fine. Our campaign is making progress in most of the battleground states and my lead over Hillary Clinton is increasing. I think that means that we've shown the American people that we are the clear alternative to eight years of economic sluggish, growing terrorist threat, corruption and national division. By the way, I can't wait to debate with Hillary Clinton in two weeks.

Fallon : Of course. That's understandable. Throughout this campaign, you and your party have slammed Hillary Clinton and Democrats for not using the term, I quote, « radical Islamic terrorism ». Why?

Rubio : Well, seriously, we are not in Harry Potter in which we should be afraid to call the enemy by his name (comparing radical Islamic terrorism to Voldemort). [Laughs]

[Laughs and applause from the audience]

Rubio : By knowing who the enemy is, we can defeat this enemy, win this war against terrorism and restore national security.

Fallon : Senator Rubio, you selected South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as your running mate, which made your team the first Republican ticket to be formed only by two members of ethnic minority groups and by two quadragenarians. So do you think the Republican Party's nickname should be changed : from Grand Old Party (GOP) to Grand Young Party (GYP)?

[Laughs and applause from the audience]



Rubio : [Laughs] Maybe! And maybe our party could even be nicknamed the Grand Diverse Young Party (GDYP).

[Laughs and applause from the audience]

Rubio : And when it comes to GOP, in my opinion it means « Grand Opportunity Party ».

[Applause from the audience]

Fallon : Senator Rubio, thank you and we wish you good campaign.

Rubio : Thank you Jimmy.

September 13-14, 2016
-Campaign in Virginia and Wisconsin

[NEW JERSEY FOR MENENDEZ]

Great updates, as always!

[UWS]

Great updates, as always!

Thanks!

Among the next few updates, there will be the first presidential debate between Marco Rubio and Hillary Clinton, which I think will be a very historic debate.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

A lot of people think Hillary was drunk

[UWS]

New polls

As we are approaching the first presidential debate between Marco Rubio and Hillary Clinton, the Florida Senator maintains his lead over the former Secretary of State. The debate scheduled to be set on September 26 2016 is likely to influence the issue of the presidential election.

General election polls

Hillary Clinton vs Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio : 51 %
Hillary Clinton : 47 %
Undecided : 2 %

Statewide opinion polls

Ohio

Marco Rubio : 54 %
Hillary Clinton : 40 %
Undecided : 6 %

Florida

Marco Rubio : 55 %
Hillary Clinton : 40 %
Undecided : 5 %

North Carolina

Marco Rubio : 52 %
Hillary Clinton : 44 %
Undecided : 4 %

Virginia

Hillary Clinton : 50 %

Marco Rubio : 46 %

Undecided : 1 %

Pennsylvania

Hillary Clinton : 49 %

Marco Rubio : 48 %
Undecided : 3 %

New Hampshire

Marco Rubio : 50 %

Hillary Clinton : 48 %
Undecided : 2 %

Michigan

Marco Rubio : 51 %

Hillary Clinton : 47 %

Undecided : 2 %

Wisconsin

Marco Rubio : 51 %

Hillary Clinton : 45 %

Undecided : 4 %

Minnesota

Hillary Clinton : 51 %

Marco Rubio : 47 %

Undecided : 2 %

Iowa

Marco Rubio : 53 %
Hillary Clinton : 42 %
Undecided : 5 %

Colorado

Marco Rubio : 54 %
Hillary Clinton : 42 %
Undecided : 4 %

Nevada

Marco Rubio : 53 %
Hillary Clinton : 44 %
Undecided : 3 %

New Mexico

Hillary Clinton : 48 %

Marco Rubio : 48 %

Undecided : 4 %

Electoral College map

Marco Rubio : 284 great electors
Hillary Clinton : 199 great electors
Toss-ups : 55 great electors

[UWS]

On the campaign trail

Vladimir Putin Increased his Power

On September 18, United Russia, President Vladimir Putin's political party, reinforced its majority during the Russian legislative election by winning 343 seats and 54 % of the vote against 42 seats and 13 % of the vote for the Communist Party and 39 seats and 13 % of the vote for the Liberal Democratic Party, thus reinforcing Putin's power and ensuring the continuation of his anti-Western and expansionist foreign policy agenda.

Marco Rubio and Hillary Clinton are Preparing for the Clash

Marco Rubio and Hillary Clinton are preparing for their first presidential debate, a crucial confrontation for gaining American voters' trust and to convince undecided voters ahead of the presidential election.

This presidential debate is announced to be historic since it will be the first one opposing a Hispanic and a woman, both nominated by the two major American political parties.

Mitt Romney will play Hillary Clinton's role in Marco Rubio's debate preparations while Cory Booker will play Rubio's role in Clinton's debate preparations.

The first debate will be moderated by Lester Holt of NBC and will take place on September 26 2016 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's campaign schedule, Part 1

September 15-16, 2016
-Senate duties in Washington D.C.

September 17, 2016
-Flight to Reno, Nevada
-Meet with voters in Reno, Nevada
-Fundraising event at Atlantis Casino Resort in Reno, Nevada
-Meet with voters at the University of Nevada in Reno, Nevada
-Economic policy speech at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada
-Meet with voters in Carson City, Nevada
-Fundraising event at Gold Dust West Carson in Carson City, Nevada
-Immigration policy speech in Carson City, Nevada
-Meet with voters in Yerington, Nevada
-Meet with voters in Fish Springs, Nevada

September 18, 2016
-Flight to Raleigh, North Carolina
-Meet with voters in Raleigh, North Carolina
-Energy policy speech at Progress Energy headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina
-Meet with college voters at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina in an effort to win among young voters
-Meet with voters in Durham, North Carolina
-Meet with voters in Greensboro, North Carolina
-Foreign policy speech in Greensboro, North Carolina, in reaction to the results of the Russian legislative elections :


These legislative elections constitute a victory for Vladimir Putin because his party increased its parliamentary majority. It ensured the continuation of Vladimir Putin's expansionist policies, especially in Ukraine and in Syria. We can't tolerate this non-sense that will bring destabilization in the Middle East and encourage terrorism in this region.

That's why we need to do what the Obama administration has failed to do : reinforcing our military, providing weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces in order to help them to defeat this pro-Russian rebellion and to give Ukraine back to Ukrainians. We also need to destroy ISIS with our military and our alliances and to put in place a no-fly zone in Syria.

Because if there's no no-fly zone there, Assad will remain able to bomb innocent civilians and those we know they are fighting ISIS, especially the Kurds, like they did last December by launching 4 barrel bombs on the Kurdish neighboorhood of Sheikh Maqsood in Aleppo. By bombing these anti-ISIS forces, Assad risks of giving ground to ISIS, which would make a step closer to Syria's transformation into a terrorist heaven. If Syria becomes a terrorist heaven, ISIS will use Syria as a springboard to itensify their terrorists attacks throughout Middle East. They will use Syria as a springboard to prepare terrorist attacks against the United States just like Al Qaida did with Afghanistan when this country was a terrorist heaven when they conducted the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001. That's why we can't allow that to happen. So by putting in place a no-fly zone, we will defeat ISIS through itensified strikes and by supporting the Kurds through arms provisions to them and by allowing them to fight ISIS while making sure they will not be striked by Syrian air forces.

We also have to topple Assad because leaving Assad in place will create the conditions for the next ISIS. We saw such kind of example in Egypt even though we'll have to work with this country to defeat terrorism. Since the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013, Egypt has seen shocking levels of repression. On August 14, 2013, it witnessed the worst mass killing in its modern history, with at least 800 killed in mere hours when security forces violently dispersed two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo. From July 2013 to May 2014, over 30 000 people were arrested or detained. This repression that targeted opposition activists made the resort to violence and terror more likely among some Egyptians. So ISIS fighters in Egypt are seizing on the wave of Islamist anger and anti-military sentiment to radicalize and recruit people and intensify their terrorist attacks. That's why we have to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq and ensure regime change in Syria to stop this insanity and restore freedom, integrity and security and to prevent any ISIS-like terrorist group from emerging through Assad's repressive measures. That way, we will give Syria back to Syrians.

September 19, 2016
-Flight to Nashua, New Hampshire
-Meet with voters in Nashua, New Hampshire
-Meet with voters in Manchester, New Hampshire
-Meet with voters in Concord, New Hampshire
-Meet with voters in Rochester, New Hampshire
-Meet with voters in Seabrook, New Hampshire
-Energy policy speech in Seabrook, New Hampshire

September 20, 2016


-Marco Rubio starts his debate preparations ahead of the first presidential debate scheduled for September 26. Mitt Romney assists Rubio in practice debates during which he plays the role of Hillary Clinton. In fact, a few like Hillary Clinton does during her debates, Mitt Romney sometimes lost his cool during his past debate performances in 2008 and 2012 and has been accused many times of flip-flopping or lying, and also he has proven in his past two presidential runs that he has strong debate skills, which makes Romney the best choice to play Clinton in Rubio's debate preparations. As the days passed, Rubio's debate readiness rapidly progressed and the Florida Senator is ready to face Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University.

September 21, 2016
-Debate preparation with Mitt Romney in Rochester, New Hampshire

September 22, 2016
-Flight to Denver, Colorado
-Meet with voters in Denver, Colorado
-Meet with voters in Aurora, Colorado
-Meet with voters in Lakewood, Colorado
-Meet with voters in Colorado Springs, Colorado
-Meet with voters in Boulder, Colorado
-Meet with college voters at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado
-Debate preparation with Mitt Romney at Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colorado

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's campaign schedule, Part 2

September 23, 2016
-Flight to Tampa, Florida
-Meet with voters in Tampa, Florida
-Meet with voters in St. Petersburg, Florida
-Meet with voters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
-Meet with voters in Orlando, Florida
-Counter-terrorism policy speech in Orlando, Florida
-Spend time with family
-Debate preparation with Mitt Romney in Orlando, Florida

September 24, 2016
-Flight to Norfolk, Virginia
-Meet with voters in Norfolk, Virginia
-Foreign policy speech in Norfolk, Virginia
-Meet with voters in Virginia Beach, Virginia
-Meet with voters in Chesapeake, Virginia
-Meet with voters in Farmville, Virginia
-Debate preparation

-In an effort to win among young people, especially Millennials (young voters from age 18 to 36), Marco Rubio's presidential campaign broadcasts a television ad narrating Marco Rubio's plan for a better future for Millennial Americans in order to show the age group raised on imitating things online that Marco Rubio is one of them and gets it.

Since this ad underlines Millennials' social and economic struggles (because Millennials are the generation that benefited the least from the economic recovery following the Great Recession) due to big government policies (such as higher taxes and regulations on the American people) and with America's broken education system, 45-year-old Marco Rubio hopes that younger voters are ready to support, in the fight for the Republican nomination and the presidency of the United States, a candidate their own age who understands their struggles and concerns.

The ad titled « Generational Choice » airs nationwide in all the battleground states : Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada

« Generational Choice» advertisement narration :



We are living in a time of uncertainty in a time we are witnessing the slowest economic growth ever in American history. And Millennials and younger generations are among the main victims of this economic sluggish.

In 2015, Millennials in New York City were reported as earning 20% less than the generation before them, as a result of entering the workforce during the Great Recession. Despite higher college attendance rates than Generation X, many were stuck in low-paid jobs, with the percentage of degree-educated young adults working in low-wage industries rising from 23% to 33% between 2000 and 2014.


Millennials have benefited the least from the economic recovery following the Great Recession as average incomes for this generation have fallen at twice the general adult population's total drop and are likely to be on a path toward lower incomes for at least another decade. Three and a half years after the worst recession since the Great Depression, the earnings and employment gap between those in the under-35 population and their parents and grandparents threatens to unravel the American dream of each generation doing better than the last. The nation's younger workers have benefited least from an economic recovery that has been the most uneven in recent history.


That's why we need to reduce taxes for all the American people, including for young generations, to reform our education system through school choice, to cut taxes and regulations on businesses and to reduce the cost of doing business in America, which will give Millennials a fair chance to find good-paying jobs, to prosper, to raise a family and to live the American Dream. Otherwise, they will inherit a lifetime of debt.


The story of the American Dream is not my story alone. It is our story. We are all but a generation or two removed who made our futures the purpose of their lives. Whether we remain a special country will depend on whether that journey is still possible for those trying to make it now. That is why this election is not just about what laws we will pass. It is a generational choice about what kind of country we will be. It is a choice Americans before us were also called to make. At the turn of the 19th century, industrialization was transforming the world, but that generation of Americans left yesterday behind, harnessed the power of the industrial age, and the 20th century became the American Century.

At midpoint of the 20th century, Americans feared they were falling behind the Soviet Union in space and on the global stage, but that generation turned the page on the past and pursued a New Frontier.


This election is a generational choice because right now our own generation as well as Millennials must choose what kind of country we want to be in this new century. Globalization and massive technological change present us with both great challenges and great opportunities. Like those before us, we must either embrace the future or be left behind by it. Our children will be either the first generation of Americans to inherit a diminished country or they will be the freest and most prosperous generation ever.

Americans not yet born will write the final verdict on our generation. Let them record that we made the right choice. Let them record that in the early years of this century, faced with a rapidly changing and uncertain world, our generation rose to face the great challenges of our time.

That's why I'm asking for your vote because if you do, we will make history. We will lead America to one of the brightest futures we've ever known and this future will be a New American Century for all Americans.



I'm Marco Rubio and I approve this message.

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's campaign schedule, Part 3

September 25, 2016
-Marco Rubio spends most of the day of making debate practices with Mitt Romney

-In an effort to portray Hillary Clinton as weak on foreign policy and on terrorism, Marco Rubio's presidential campaign broadcasts an attack ad against Clinton on her disastrous record as Secretary of State while highlighting Rubio's foreign policy experience and narrating his plan to defeat radical Islamic terrorism.

The ad titled « Victory » airs in all the battleground states : Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada

« Victory » advertisement narration :



Narrator : In this time of growing terrorist threat around the world, terrorism has become one of the biggest issues of this election. Over the last year, we saw several terrorist attacks in Paris, Garland, San Bernardino, Philadelphia, Brussels, Orlando, Nice, etc.



And yet, Hillary Clinton seeks to continue Barack Obama's failed foreign policy that promotes deeper cuts in defense budget and that seeks to make the U.S. Navy the smallest navy on Earth, which will dramatically complicate our fight against terrorism.

Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration have failed to keep us safe. Due to low security there, Clinton allowed terrorists to kill 4 U.S. ambassadors in Benghazi.



Hillary Clinton : What difference at this point does it make?

Narrator : And, in an effort to hide the truth from the American people, she deleted over 30 000 emails that could be hijacked by America's foes, thus putting lives in danger. And she does not have the courage to define the enemy by its name, which is radical Islamic terrorism. Hillary Clinton is unqualified to be commander-in-chief.

Disengagement from our fight against terrorism means America's surrender, which will hand a victory to ISIS and international radical Islamic terrorism, thus allowing further terrorist attacks against us and our allies.





For Marco Rubio, America's defeat is not an option. Unlike Hillary Clinton, he has all the foreign policy leadership and judgement to fight and defeat radical Islamic terrorism. He has never been afraid to call the enemy by its name, he has co-sponsored a law sanctionning Hezbollah, he successfully co-sponsored the Bipartisan Counter-terrorist Coalition Act that reinforced our defense ties with our Middle Eastern allies in our fight against terrorism, he managed to make his Terror Intelligence Improvement Act pass into law, thus keeping guns away from suspected terrorists and he fought Barack Obama on the Iran deal that is giving Iran the necessary funds to build nuclear weapons and to support international terrorism.


As President of the United States of America, Marco Rubio will fight and defeat terrorism by modernizing our military, reinforcing our alliances, striking terrorists on their turf, restoring sanctions against Iran to make sure Tehran will never get nuclear weapons and trigger nuclear wars and by arming anti-ISIS forces.


He is the candidate in this race who is the most determined to lead America to victory against radical Islamic terrorism. Under his leadership, America will win.



Crowd : USA! USA! USA!

Narrator : So the choice for this eletion is bad foreign policy judgement and risky ideas or proven leadership and a path to America's victory against terrorism.



Marco Rubio : I'm Marco Rubio and I approve this message.

September 26, 2016
-Flight to New York City, New York
-Meet with voters in New York City, New York
-Debate preparation with Mitt Romney for most of the afternoon
-Bus trip with family to at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
-Florida Senator Marco Rubio debates with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York

[erſatz-york]

Can't wait to see how the debate turned out!

[UWS]

Can't wait to see how the debate turned out!

Thanks!

[_]

Willing to bet Marco is able to flip NJ after Hillary bombs the debate.

[UWS]

First Presidential Debate

Date : September 26, 2016

Place : Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York

Moderator : Lester Holt

Podium order :

Clinton      Rubio

Lester Holt : Good evening from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. I'm Lester Holt, anchor of "NBC Nightly News." I want to welcome you to the first 2016 presidential election debates.

The participants tonight are Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the Republican presidential nominee, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. This debate is sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. The commission drafted tonight's format, and the rules have been agreed to by the campaigns.

The 90-minute debate is divided into six segments, each 15 minutes long. We’ll explore three topic areas tonight: Achieving prosperity; America’s direction; and securing America. At the start of each segment, I will ask the same lead-off question to both candidates, and they will each have up to two minutes to respond. From that point until the end of the segment, we’ll have an open discussion. The questions are mine and have not been shared with the commission or the campaigns. The audience here in the room has agreed to remain silent so that we can focus on what the candidates are saying. I will invite you to applaud, however, at this moment, as we welcome the candidates : Hillary Clinton and Marco Rubio.

[APPLAUSE FROM THE AUDIENCE AS MARCO RUBIO AND HILLARY CLINTON ARRIVE ON THE DEBATE STAGE, SHAKE HANDS AND GET BEHIND THEIR DEBATE PODIUMS]

[UWS]

First Presidential Debate, Part 1

Lester Holt : So, let’s begin. We’re calling this opening segment “Achieving Prosperity.” And central to that is jobs. There are two economic realities in America today. There’s been a record six straight years of job growth, and new census numbers show incomes have increased at a record rate after years of stagnation. However, income inequality remains significant, and nearly half of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Beginning with you, Secretary Clinton, why are you a better choice than your opponent to create the kinds of jobs that will put more money into the pockets of American works?

Hillary Clinton : Well, thank you, Lester, and thanks to Hofstra for hosting us. The central question in this election is really what kind of country we want to be and what kind of future we’ll build together. Today is my granddaughter’s second birthday, so I think about this a lot. First, we have to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. That means we need new jobs, good jobs, with rising incomes. I want us to invest in you. I want us to invest in your future. That means jobs in infrastructure, in advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology, clean, renewable energy, and small business, because most of the new jobs will come from small business. We also have to make the economy fairer. That starts with raising the national minimum wage and also guarantee, finally, equal pay for women’s work. I also want to see more companies do profit-sharing. If you help create the profits, you should be able to share in them, not just the executives at the top. I also want to see more companies do profit-sharing. If you help create the profits, you should be able to share in them, not just the executives at the top while my opponent Senator Marco Rubio seeks to restore the trickle-down economic policies that cut taxes for the rich. Our economy must work for all Americans.

Lester Holt : Secretary Clinton, thank you. Senator Rubio, the same question to you. It’s about putting more money into the pockets of American workers. You have up to two minutes.

Marco Rubio : Thank you, Lester. First of all, congratulations, Secretary, for your granddaughter's birthday. This election is about what kind of future we will give to America, to our children, including mine. As a young, boy, I was raised paycheck to paycheck and despite their struggles, my parents succeeded to adapt in this new society called America and managed to make their children better-off than they were. So I understand the struggles of everyday Americans.

We are now witnessing the slowest economic progress in America's history. Only this summer, the unemployment rate raised from 4.9 % to 5.2 %. We are still dependent on foreign energy, our jobs and companies are shipping overseas, we are less competitive in the world economy, education is less accessible for our people. We can't settle this situation by having four more years like the last eight years as Secretary Clinton is running to continue Barack Obama's trickle-down government in which a bigger government taxes more, regulates more and spends more. We need to follow a different path to economic prosperity.

My plan has seven basic parts : number one, cutting taxes and regulations for all Americans, including the middle class, in order to reinforce their purchasing power as well as consumption because consumption is one of the important strengths of our economy. Number two, getting us to energy independence by taking advantage of our oil, gas, coal, nuclear, solar, wind, hydroelectricity, etc. Number three, pursuing our quest for open markets around the world in order to make America competitive in the world economy through lower tariffs and corporate tax reduction for America from 40 % to 20 %. Number four, promoting school choice to make sure our people have the skills they need to succeed and the best schools in the world. Number five, balancing the budget. Number six, investing a part of future budget surpluses in the development of infrastructure in order to facilitate economic activities and the implementation of new businesses here in America. And number seven, making America the best place in the world to do business, because it's from businesses, including small businesses like the Secretary said, that jobs come from. I am sitting in the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and in the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. I know what it takes to help creating jobs, to get small business working again and to restore America's prosperity. That's how we're going to restore America's prosperity and get America to a New American Century.

Lester Holt : Secretary Clinton, would you like respond?

Hillary Clinton : I have the right experience on this stage to keep America on the right track. While we've just heard Senator Rubio describing his qualifications to grow this economy, we also have to understand that he missed many Senate votes in order to focus on his campaign. So he missed several occasions to take a position on very important issues. Senator Rubio is lucky this debate isn't in Washington, D.C. Since he missed so many votes, I don't think he knows his way around the Capitol building anymore.

Marco Rubio : You want to compare Senate records? Let's look at what you accomplished in eight years. You introduced 412 bills. Only three of them became law. These were not incredible bills that changed our country for the better. One of them renamed a post office. Another renamed a highway! Not exactly life-changing laws. While I am proud of my accomplishments in the Senate, including the AGREE Act, the Regulation Costs to Small Businesses Act, my 2014 VA reform bill and the Bipartisan Counterterrorism Coalition Act. And I've got to remind you, Secretary, that while you were running for President in 2008, when you were Senator of New York, you missed several Senate votes as well. In fact you missed 208 out of 651 votes. And I don't remember you ever complaining about Barack Obama's vote attendance record, nor Bernie Sanders' vote attendance record in which he missed 37 of the Senate's 38 roll call votes in the first quarter of this year. The only reason why you're orchestrating this attack against me is because we are running for the same office, because we are from different parties and because someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you. So let's focus on the real issues facing our country and have a real debate about these issues.

[APPLAUSE]

[UWS]

First Presidential Debate, Part 2

Lester Holt : Secretary Clinton, many people are suspecting free trade deals as factors of American job losses. However, while you were Secretary of State, you supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership before changing your position about it. What is your plan to keep America's competitiveness while defending American workers' interests?

Hillary Clinton : Well, I think that trade is an important issue. Of course, we are 5 percent of the world’s population; we have to trade with the other 95 percent. And we need to have smart, fair trade deals. We need to put our workers interests first. We have to renegotiate the NAFTA in order to favor our workers and avoid job losses in America. That's exactly why I'm opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnsership, to avoid offshoring American jobs to Asia. That's why I opposed CAFTA. I'm not against free trade, I'm for fair trade, which means trade promoting job creation while being active in defending the environment and our workers' interests. Actually, Asian cars are less expensive than American cars, which will not give us the upper hand in the TPP when it comes to the automotive industry. We also, though, need to have a tax system that rewards work and not just financial transactions. And the kind of plan that Senator Rubio has put forth would be trickle-down economics. It would be the biggest tax cuts for the top percent of the people in this country than we’ve ever had. We have to remember that eight years ago, we had the worst financial crisis, the Great Recession, the worst since the 1930s. That was in large part because of tax policies that slashed taxes on the wealthy, failed to invest in the middle class, took their eyes off of Wall Street, and created a perfect storm. We just have a different view about what’s best for growing the economy, how we make investments that will actually produce jobs and rising incomes.

Marco Rubio : Well, Secretary, I don't think it's wise to lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck. I was raised paycheck to paycheck. And saying that my tax plan will cut taxes only for riches is simply not true. As President, I will cut taxes for all Americans from the bottom to the top, including the middle class and over the last eight years, the middle class has been crushed by the Obama administration's taxes and regulations. We need to reverse that situation.

Secretary Clinton doesn't seem to understand how the economy works. Two years ago, she said, I quote, « Don’t let anybody tell you that it’s corporations and businesses that create jobs. » This is an offense against free enterprise, against success and against the American Dream. We are not the strongest economy in the world because of big government. Free enterprise is a basic element of America's economic prosperity. Businesses create jobs and most of jobs come from small business. Thanks to the hard work of the American people, we can promote opportunity. America is strong because of the ingenuity and entrepreneurship and hard work of the American people. That's why I want to make America the best business-friendly environment in the world.

When it comes to free trade, the American people sometimes doesn't know where you are because, as Lester said, you shifted your position on TPP. You've been one of the greatest proponents of this deal while you were Secretary of State before opposing it. This is pure political calculation. The right solution on the free trade issue is to lower the cost of doing business here, and to cut taxes and regulations for our manufacturing businesses, which will help us to keep American manufacturing businesses here in America because manufacturing business owners will know that America is the best place where they can be competitive. That's exactly what my running mate, Governor Nikki Haley, has done by abolishing sales tax on manufacturing equipment and by reducing the cost of doing business in South Carolina. The reason why we are losing jobs is because we have the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world, which is 40 %, and that's why American businesses have been drived out because of the Obama administration's taxes and regulations. While Singapore has a 17 % corporate tax rate, 17 %. That gives the upper-hand to that country in free trade deals and explains why Singapore has the lowest unemployment rate among developed countries, which is 1.8 %. That's why we have to reduce our corporate tax rate to 20 % in order to keep our jobs, to help American businesses to create jobs and to expand, to help our future business owners to create new companies and to make America much more competitive in the world economy. By reducing tariffs, we will make American products less expensive which will increase foreign consumers' access to our markets. America's energy independence will make American cars less expensive than Asian cars and encourage consumers here and abroad to buy more American cars, which will help us growing our economy and creating jobs. So Secretary, don't make another Ted Cruz out of yourself with your all-or-nothing attitude.

[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]

Lester Holt : Let's get to the energy issue. What is the difference between both of you about getting America to energy independence? Senator Rubio, you go first.

Marco Rubio : Barack Obama has declared war on energy industry. His administration cut permits on federal lands and increased taxes and regulations on energy industries. That's not the right path to energy independence. If I'm elected, I will get America to energy independence by increasing oil drilling and production, doubling permits on federal lands, approving Keystone XL pipeline, the Dakota Access Pipeline, the TransAmerica Energy pipeline (from Pennsylvania to California) and drilling in ANWR, exploit subsea oil and gas resources through underwater tankers in order to avoid an environmental catastrophe, thus helping us creating new jobs while preserving the environment. This will restore the vitality and dynamism of America's automobile industry, thus helping us to manufacture more cars. Energy independence will make our cars less expensive than Asian cars, which will give us the upper hand in the Trans-Pacific Partnership because it will give Asian consumers a chance for a stronger purchasing power by giving them the option of buying less expensive American cars. That way, we will prevent another bankruptcy in Detroit, in the Great Lakes and all across America.

We need to use a part of the revenues from oil drilling to invest into the development of renewable energies such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, ethanol, biomass, etc., thus contributing to further job creation without hurting the environment and getting us energy independence by 2030. It will not be done through borrowed money, but through gained money. That will make sure that we take advantage of all of our sources of energy and that we stop terrorist organizations from getting some of the money we send overseas to oil producing countries by importing their oil. This is not only an economic issue, it's also a national security issue.

We also have to support the expansion of the Quebec–New England Electric Power Transmission (also called Northern Pass Transmission) to create new American jobs and develop new electric technologies that will help us creating more jobs. My plan also forecasts wooing European investors with electric industry skills at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in order to help our electric and nuclear industries growing thanks to nuclear technologies adopted by France, one of our greatest partners and one of the greatest electric powers in the world.

My energy plan will create about 7 million new good-paying jobs and bring prosperity back while improving our ecological footprint.

Lester Holt : Secretary Clinton?

Hillary Clinton : First of all, oil and natural gas production are higher than they’ve been in years. But I also believe that we’ve got to look at the energy source of the future, like wind and solar and biofuels, and make those investments. We can deploy a half a billion more solar panels. We can have enough clean energy to power every home. We can build a new modern electric grid. That’s a lot of jobs; that’s a lot of new economic activity. I disagree with Senator Rubio's plan to expand oil production in the Arctic region. This agenda will increase the oceans' levels and cause more catastrophic flooding that will kill many people.
   
Marco Rubio : And yet, you received and accepted 4.5 million dollars from the fossil fuel industry to fund your campaign. You also received individual contributions from over 50 lobbyists of the oil and gas industry. By the way, Secretary Clinton has changed her position on Keystone XL. As Secretary of State, she said she was « inclined » to approve this pipeline and now she's against it. The growth of energy production is not due to this administration's policy. All of the increase in natural gas and oil has happened on private land, not on government land, where this administration cut permits and license in half. If I'm President, I'll double them. When it comes to the Arctic, Secretary Clinton had either not read my program or not heard the statement that I just made, because I proposed the manufacture of more underwater tankers that will be able to exploit oilfields under water as well as more oil platforms. That way, we'll have the capacity to exploit these resources easily and safely without any danger for our environment. By the way, we must engage our country in the race into the Arctic. It's a strategic territory with great potential, including an abundance of oil and gas, particularly on the Alaskan coasts and the Beaufort Sea. We must secure these resources before the Russians do and exploit and drill these oil and gas reserves to create new jobs and increase our energy independence. In this time of economic sluggish, we need to care about Americans out of work who desperately need to find a job, to prosper and to fulfill their needs here on the land of opportunity.

[UWS]

First Presidential Debate, Part 3

Lester Holt : We move into our next segment talking about America's direction. And let's start by talking about race. The share of Americans who say race relations are bad in this country is the highest it's been in decades, much of it amplified by shootings of African-Americans by police, as we've seen recently in Charlotte and Tulsa. Race has been a big issue in this campaign, and one of you is going to have to bridge a very wide and bitter gap. So how do you heal the divide? Secretary Clinton, you get two minutes on this.

Hillary Clinton : Well, you're right. Race remains a significant challenge in our country. Unfortunately, race still determines too much, often determines where people live, determines what kind of education in their public schools they can get, and, yes, it determines how they're treated in the criminal justice system. We've just seen those two tragic examples in both Tulsa and Charlotte. And we've got to do several things at the same time. We have to restore trust between communities and the police. We have to work to make sure that our police are using the best training, the best techniques, that they're well prepared to use force only when necessary. Everyone should be respected by the law, and everyone should respect the law. Right now, that's not the case in a lot of our neighborhoods. So I have, ever since the first day of my campaign, called for criminal justice reform. I've laid out a platform that I think would begin to remedy some of the problems we have in the criminal justice system. But we also have to recognize, in addition to the challenges that we face with policing, there are so many good, brave police officers who equally want reform. So we have to bring communities together in order to begin working on that as a mutual goal. And we've got to get guns out of the hands of people who should not have them. The gun epidemic is the leading cause of death of young African- American men, more than the next nine causes put together. So we have to do two things, as I said. We have to restore trust. We have to work with the police. We have to make sure they respect the communities and the communities respect them. And we have to tackle the plague of gun violence, which is a big contributor to a lot of the problems that we're seeing today.

Lester Holt : All right. Senator Rubio, you have two minutes. How do you heal the divide?

Marco Rubio : Well first of all, I am proud to have supported Governor Haley's efforts to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Capitol Hill and I am proud to have selected her as my running mate. The Second Amendment is not an option. It is not a suggestion. It is a constitutional right of every American to be able to protect themselves and their families. There are no gun control measures that would have been preventive. Why? Because criminals don't buy their guns from a gun show. They don't buy their guns from a collector. And they don't buy their guns from a gun store. They steal them. They get them on the black market. But I demonstrated clear leadership in stopping suspected criminals or terrorists from getting weapons by successfully introducing the Terror Intelligence Improvement Act that is aimed at keeping guns away from suspected terrorists. The right thing to do is to allow the Attorney General to delay transfer of firearms to suspected terrorists. That's how we're going to stop terrorists from orchestrating massive shootings while protecting the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

When it comes to race, the African American community's living conditions got worse, even under this president. Many members of this community were unfairly killed by policemen or supremacists. As I said, if you are white in America, you cannot fully understand what it means to be black in America. And the economic sluggish we are actually living has deepen racial inequalities. We need a reformed criminal code, which criminal regulations and laws are easier to understand, a reform of civil forfeiture by which people suspected of crimes will be deprived of private property. We need economic growth for all the American people, including African-Americans and we need to promote school choice to give African Americans an easier access to education. That's how we're going to give every American, including the African American community, a fair and decent chance to live the American Dream.

Lester Holt : Our next segment is called "Securing America." We want to start with a 21st century war happening every day in this country. The terrorist threat intensified around the world and we saw a multiplication of terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, Nice, Berlin, in San Bernardino and Orlando. So my question is, how you would prevent terrorist attacks against our country? Senator Rubio?

Marco Rubio : Well, over the last few years, even though they found and killed Osama Bin Laden, the Obama administration, in which Secretary Clinton was working, has demonstrated weak leadership when it comes to fight radical Islamic terrorism. They made a mistake by withdrawing our troops too early from Iraq five years ago while our troops' duty to defeat Al Qaeda and to train Iraqi troops was not yet accomplished, so ISIS seized this opportunity based on Iraqi troops' unreadiness to expand a large territory in Iraq and Syria, slaying innocent people, crucifying, burning and beheading Christians, Kurds and mainstream Muslims. Now ISIS has killed people around the world for what we believe, including gender equity, democracy and freedom of religion. We saw it in Paris, Nice, Brussels, Garland, San Bernardino and Orlando, in my home state of Florida. All of that happened because this administration has weakened our security measures as well as our military by making it smaller than at any time since World War I.

If I'm President, we will reinforce our Homeland Security, increase the FBI's counter-terrorism budget, reinforce and modernize our military, strengthen and expand our military partnerships with our allies, strike ISIS on its turf through intensified airstrikes and the deployment of ground troops and all the necessary military arsenal, take away oil refineries that are serving to fund ISIS' terrorist activities and give these refineries back to the Iraqi people and the Syrian people, and arm the Kurds as well Syrian rebels that we know are not related to terrorist groups. That's how we will defeat ISIS. President Obama claimed that the terrorist threat is contained. It must not be contained, it must be defeated and destroyed like the evil it is. That way, we will prevent terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies.

Lester Holt : Your response, Secretary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton : Well, we don't need another Afghanistan or another Iraq, both conflicts that cost us hundreds of billions of dollars and made no real progress in the Bush years. I think we need to do much more with our tech companies to prevent ISIS and their operatives from being able to use the Internet to radicalize, even direct people in our country and Europe and elsewhere. But we also have to intensify our airstrikes against ISIS and eventually support our Arab and Kurdish partners as well Syrian rebels to be able to take ISIS out of Raqqa, end their claim of being a Caliphate.

We're making progress. Our military is assisting in Iraq. And we're hoping that within the year we'll be able to push ISIS out of Iraq and then, you know, really squeeze them in Syria. But we have to be cognizant of the fact that they've had foreign fighters coming to volunteer for them, foreign money, foreign weapons, so we have to make this the top priority.

And I would also do everything possible to take out their leadership. I was involved in a number of efforts to take out Al Qaida leadership when I was secretary of state, including, of course, taking out bin Laden. And I think we need to go after Baghdadi, as well, make that one of our organizing principles. Because we've got to defeat ISIS, and we've got to do everything we can to disrupt their propaganda efforts online.

Marco Rubio : It's strange that now Secretary Clinton is against the idea of sending ground troops in Iraq while she supported and voted in favor of the Iraq War in 2002, when she was Senator of New York. And Secretary, you may have been involved in the effort of founding and killing Bin Laden under your watch as Secretary of State, but you also contributed to the rise of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, because we withdrew our troops from Iraq at the wrong time and ISIS enjoyed our absence to take control of an important part of Iraq. ISIS' rise is also due to a schism in Al Qaida, to drastic cuts in defense budget, thus causing America's disengagement in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism. Our allies no longer trust us and our enemies are encouraged to test us. We need to restore American leadership in order to restore trust among our allies, and to ensure America's victory against ISIS. We have to defeat Al Qaida and ISIS and to make sure the Iraqi troops will be fully ready to ensure their country's security.

When I'm President of the United States, we will find Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and kill him, which requires increasing military spending and sending ground troops in Syria and Iraq in order to pursue War on Terror. Our NATO allies got attacked over and over again by ISIS more than ever before and they share our goal of defeating radical Islamic extremism, so they will join us in this military offensive against ISIS. Because the Article 5 of NATO says that an attack on one is an attack on all. We also need to modernize our intelligence and military technologies to find and destroy terrorist positions. As a consequence, thanks to the collaboration our local allies, to our military power as well as India's Turkey's military powers, and to the great number of American and allied troops in Syria and Iraq, we will cut ISIS resources, surround ISIS territory, force ISIS fighters to divide their forces for the defense of all the corners of their territory and defeat ISIS more easily. That way, we will finally find Baghdadi's refuge, attack it and capture or kill him, thus weakening ISIS leading to its end, thus bringing peace, stability and justice back in the Middle East.

[UWS]

First Presidential Debate, Part 4

Lester Holt : So that brings us to the final segment of the subject of securing America. On nuclear weapons, President Obama reportedly considered changing the nation's longstanding policy on first use. Do you support the current policy? Secretary Clinton, two minutes.

Hillary Clinton : Under my watch as Secretary of State, thanks to the Russian reset, we and Russia agreed to reduce our nuclear arsenals. Thanks to the Iran nuclear deal adopted last year, we managed to make sure that Iran will not have nuclear weapons even though they are still sponsors of terrorism. We don't need any war with Iran, which will be very expensive in dollars and lives. This deal ensured stability in the Middle East and gave us access to Iranian facilities that we never had before.

Lester Holt : Your response, Senator Rubio.

Marco Rubio : First of all, the Russia Reset has proven to be a major failure of the Obama/Clinton foreign policy due to Crimea's annexation by Russia and to Vladimir Putin's support to Bachar al-Assad.

When it comes to North Korea, this administration has shown no leadership in stoping North Korea's nuclear threat, a threat that will cause nuclear wars on the Pacific as well as millions of deaths if we don't do anything to prevent a nuclear missile launched by North Korea from hitting Pyongyang's neighbors and our local allies in general. North Korea already possesses intercontinental missiles capable of reaching Hawaii, Guam and maybe even Alaska as well as the West Coast of the United States. We can't let that happen. We have to put North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terror, to establish additional sanctions especially on their leadership who holds significant assets overseas and to impose sanctions on any individual, company or bank around the world that serve as financial intermediaries for dollar transactions to North Korea to help this tyrannical and corrupt regime to evade U.N. sanctions and to fund the development of North Korean nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. We also need to rebuild our military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes South Korea, Japan and others, and to recommit to missile defense in order to destroy any missile launched by North Korea.

And finally, on Iran, the Obama administration has made one of the worst deals we've ever seen in our history. It's a concession to the radical Shia cleric who shouted « Death to America! » By lifting sanctions, the so-called Iran nuclear deal is giving Iran the necessary funds to keep sponsoring international terrorism and to keep developing nuclear weapons that will be aimed at striking the United States and their allies, including Israel. This will cause a disastrous nuclear war and destabilize the Middle East. So we must not take any option off the table, not even the military option even though it will be the last option. If we want peace, we have to be ready for war. So if I'm President, we will restore sanctions against Iran in order to stop these capitals from falling into Iran's hands and to be used to support terrorism and to help developing Iran's nuclear military arsenal and to contribute to nuclear attacks against us and our allies. I will reinforce our defense ties with our allies in the Middle East and in the Indian Subcontinent (especially Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) not only to fight terrorism in the Middle East but also to increase pression on Iran to make certain that Tehran will never ever get nuclear weapons. If we put in place an anti-missile shield on the Mediterranean Sea, we will intercept and take down any nuclear missile launched by Iran. We have to make sure that Iran will use its nuclear energy not for military purposes but for economic purposes. Nuclear energy should be used for Iran's economic growth. As long as Iran will act the way I just described, there will be no need to intervene militarily against Iran, which will reinforce international security and peace.

[UWS]

First Presidential Debate, Part 5

Lester Holt : That brings us to closing statements. Secretary Clinton, then Senator Rubio.

Hillary Clinton : Thank you Lester and Senator Rubio because that was a terrific debate and I want to thank the Hofstra University for hosting this great event.

Eight years ago, we suffered the Financial crisis, during which we lost 9 million jobs, many people lost their homes and income inequalities increased. But over the last eight years, we reduced the unemployment rate from 8 % to 5.2 % today. But there is more to do, including raising the minimum wage to 15 $/hour, investing in green energies and in infrastructure. There is also more to do to keep America safe, including a comprehensive diplomacy.

Either we go back to the years that cost American lives and jobs through tax cuts for the rich and expensive wars or we move America foward. The choice is up to you and I hope I you will make the right choice on November 8.

Lester Holt : Senator Rubio.

Marco Rubio : I want to thank you Lester, Secretary Clinton and the Hofstry University for this great debate. And I want to thank all the people watching at home this debate, a great moment of democracy during which the American people has a crucial choice to make for America's future.

You know, this election matters more than ever before. This election is about the future of America and the future of the American Dream. There are many reasons to be concerned about the future of this great and beautiful country. The choice for the path we want to take is clear :

If Secretary Clinton were to be elected, we will keep seeing the middle-class crushed through the fall of incomes and an increase of prices, thus contributing to an increase of inflation and to higher unemployment rate. My opponent tursts the government, but I trust the American people and it's willing and audacity to work hard and to succeed in order live better lives and to rise their children for a better future.

If I'm President, we will help create over 10 million new jobs in America through free market solutions.

If the Secretary is elected, Obamacare will be permanent, which will dramatically increase the cost of earning health services. Health premiums will rise by approximately 4000 $ per family.

If you put your trust in me, I will repeal and replace Obamacare by a better health care reform that will make health care more accessible to more Americans through reforms that will lower costs in the health care industry, which will reinforce the world's best medical care quality.

And finally, if my opponent is elected, there will be further heavy cuts to our military, which will be a disaster for our national security and which terrorists will see as an opportunity to strike us or our allies.

If you elect me as your President, I will make our military, our alliances and our diplomacy stronger in order to face and defeat our foes.

I will use all of my energy to keep America safe, strong, fair and prosperous for all the American people. That's how we're going to make our children, including my four children, and future generations the most prosperous Americans that ever lived. That's how we will make the 21st century a New American Century.

Thank you.

Lester Holt : Thank you Senator. Thank you Secretary. The next debate will be the vice presidential event on Tuesday, October 4th, at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. For now, from the Hofstra University, I'm Lester Holt. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for watching, and good night.

[APPLAUSE FROM THE AUDIENCE AS MARCO RUBIO AND HILLARY CLINTON SHAKE HANDS]

[UWS]

Who Won the First Presidential Debate?

CNN/ORC poll :

Marco Rubio : 70 %
Hillary Clinton : 25 %
Tied/Unsure : 5 %

Politico/Morning Consult poll :

Marco Rubio : 71 %
Hillary Clinton : 20 %
Tied/Unsure : 9 %

Reuters/Ipsos poll :

Marco Rubio : 60 %
Hillary Clinton : 28 %
Tied/Unsure : 12 %

NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll :

Marco Rubio : 56 %
Hillary Clinton : 31 %
Tied/Unsure : 13 %

Gallup poll :

Marco Rubio : 67 %
Hillary Clinton : 29 %
Tied/Unsure : 4 %

Fox News poll :

Marco Rubio : 72 %
Hillary Clinton : 24 %
Tied/Unsure : 4 %

ABC News/Washington Post poll :

Marco Rubio : 68 %
Hillary Clinton : 27 %
Tied/Unsure : 5 %

[UWS]

New polls

After Marco Rubio's massive victory over Hillary Clinton during the first presidential debate on September 26, the Republican presidential nominee enjoyed a boost in the polls, leading his Democratic opponent by 9 percentage points, precisely 54 % for the Florida Senator over the former Secretary of State's 45 %.

In addition, Rubio's strong debate performance seems to have turned the traditional Democratic strongholds of New Jersey and Maine into battleground states since Clinton now leads Rubio in New Jersey by only 3 percentage points (49 % for Clinton and 46 % Rubio) and in Maine by only 4 percentage points (50 % for Clinton and 46 % for Rubio).

So there's no doubt about it : the Marcomentum goes on. Who knows, maybe this election could result with a landslide by Marco Rubio. First, we will have to see the tendency in the next few weeks with the vice-presidential debate and the next two presidential debates and possibly an October surprise.

General election polls

Hillary Clinton vs Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio : 54 %
Hillary Clinton : 45 %
Undecided : 1 %

Statewide opinion polls

Ohio

Marco Rubio : 55 %
Hillary Clinton : 41 %
Undecided : 4 %

Florida

Marco Rubio : 57 %
Hillary Clinton : 40 %
Undecided : 3 %

North Carolina

Marco Rubio : 54 %
Hillary Clinton : 44 %
Undecided : 2 %

Virginia

Hillary Clinton : 50 %

Marco Rubio : 47 %

Undecided : 3 %

Pennsylvania

Marco Rubio : 50 %
Hillary Clinton : 48 %
Undecided : 2 %

New Hampshire

Marco Rubio : 52 %

Hillary Clinton : 47 %
Undecided : 1 %

Michigan

Marco Rubio : 53 %

Hillary Clinton : 46 %

Undecided : 1 %

Wisconsin

Marco Rubio : 53 %

Hillary Clinton : 45 %

Undecided : 2 %

Minnesota

Hillary Clinton : 50 %

Marco Rubio : 49 %

Undecided : 1 %

Iowa

Marco Rubio : 55 %
Hillary Clinton : 42 %
Undecided : 3 %

Colorado

Marco Rubio : 56 %
Hillary Clinton : 41 %
Undecided : 3 %

Nevada

Marco Rubio : 55 %
Hillary Clinton : 43 %
Undecided : 2 %

New Mexico

Marco Rubio : 50 %
Hillary Clinton : 47 %
Undecided : 3 %

New Jersey

Hillary Clinton : 49 %
Marco Rubio : 46 %
Undecided : 5 %

Maine

Hillary Clinton : 50 %
Marco Rubio : 46 %
Undecided : 6 %

Electoral College map

Marco Rubio : 304 great electors
Hillary Clinton : 168 great electors
Toss-ups : 66 great electors

[NEW JERSEY FOR MENENDEZ]

(prays for atlas blue New Jersey)

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