A Candidate's Daughter

What it's like when dad runs for office

This weekend I interviewed 10-year old Amanda Rubio, oldest daughter of Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who has four kids.

I asked her how it felt knowing her father could very well be the next Senator of Florida. As I type this story on election night, her father has just been declared the winner in a three-way race.

“It feels really good,” she said on a campaign stop with her dad in my hometown of Lakeland, Florida. “I know that he could go around the world expressing what he feels, and try to make this country a better place.”

I then asked her about her favorite TV show. She said it was the Disney Channel show Good Luck, Charlie. I was thinking, “That’s mine, too!”

Finally, I asked her what she believed was the hardest thing about all her dad’s campaign.

“I think it is that my dad is not here a lot,” she said. “I feel like, ‘Where’s my dad,’ and my mom says he is all the way in Washington (or other places).”

As I was watching her dad make his acceptance speech, he mentioned that point as well. He thanked his wife for “raising the kids practically by herself,” and his kids for allowing him to devote so much time to the campaign.

While he spoke, Amanda was on stage with her sister and two brothers. Her mom’s arm was around her and she was grinning from ear to ear. Even though she is now a Senator’s daughter, she is still a kid who is proud of her dad.

—Shelby Fallin

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Shelby Fallin with Amanda Rubio, 10-year-old daughter of Marco Rubio, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida, at a campaign stop in Orlando, Florida, October 2010. (Photo Courtesy Shelby Fallin)

Comments

[Kid Reporter Danielle A.]

Hi Shelby!

I really loved this story! =D

[Kid reporter Tori]

Hi, I'm Tori and a few days ago I found out that I am one of the new kid reporter for scholastics! I am so excited! I just can't wait until my first assignment! That was a really cool article! I hope mine will be that good!