Marco Rubio said Friday he was “puzzled” by Ted Cruz’s attacks on his stance on his immigration for one reason: The Florida senator says they hold pretty similar positions.
“I’m puzzled and quite frankly surprised by Ted’s attacks since Ted’s position on immigration is not much different than mine,” Rubio told reporters Friday after his appearance at the Sunshine Summit in Florida.
It’s the same defense Rubio used Thursday when Cruz opened a battle on immigration with him that’s been roiling over the past day, with both sides attacking each other.
Cruz pressed the case again Friday morning, telling radio host Mike Gallagher he “laughed out loud” when Rubio first likened their immigration stances.
“Yesterday, Marco had a fairly remarkable comment in that he suggested that my record was exactly like his on immigration and I have to admit, I laughed out loud at that,” Cruz told Gallagher.
But Rubio argued that if Cruz’s position was so different he should let voters know that he changed his stance.
“He’s a supporter of legalizing people that are in this country illegally. If he’s changed that position — and certainly he has a right to change his position on that issue — but he should be clear about that,” Rubio said Friday. “On other issues regarding immigration, he’s not that much further than I am. He wanted to double the number of green cards. He wanted a 500% increase in the number of H1B visas. So everybody running for president on the Republican side in one way or shape supports some form or fashion the legalization of people that are in this country illegally.”