During Rachel Maddow's Democratic forum, the MSNBC host asked former secretary of state and 2016 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton an interesting question about the GOP presidential candidates. Maddow asked Clinton which of them she'd choose as her running mate if one of them had to be her vice president. Clinton dodged the question, but I'd like to think that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio would be her choice. And it would be great if Rubio made a cameo at the Democratic debate. He wouldn't need to join the panel against the Democratic candidates, of course — this is their time to shine. But bringing him in as a guest moderator to ask a question or two would definitely shake things up.
One of the most notable moments at Tuesday's Republican debate was when Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tried to make Rubio appear too moderate on immigration policy. Rubio avoided going into detail about immigration then, but on Wednesday, he told NPR that he favors a "very long path" to citizenship for people who are in the United States illegally.
"That is not a majority position in my party, and it's not going to be easy to do, but I personally am open to it," Rubio told NPR. And while his statements might not be gaining him popularity among the right-wing base, it would make him a good answer for Democratic candidates asked about their GOP opponents. Clinton, for example, supports "comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship," according to her campaign website. Bringing Rubio in to discuss immigration reform would definitely shake things up at Saturday's debate.
Immigration reform isn't the only topic on which Rubio stands out from his fellow GOP presidential candidates, either. In a piece for The New York Times' Upshot published Wednesday, Toni Monkovic ponders whether Rubio, 44, is "too young for Republicans." But his age could help him appeal to moderate voters and young people. A younger GOP candidate suggests that he might not be as entrenched in the GOP values which many consider outdated. Rubio often presents himself as a relatable candidate by telling the story of his immigrant parents, a bartender and a maid.
Rubio's youth and relatable nature would make him the perfect candidate to appear at the debate, even if only for a minute or two. He isn't so far to the right that the audience would boo him (I hope, anyway), and he'd be in on the joke of any punchlines thrown his way. A Clinton-Rubio ticket probably isn't in our future, but a quick Rubio cameo would certainly make the second Democratic debate more fun.
