In first national TV ad, Rubio talks of terror threat

Speaking directly to the camera, the freshman senator from Florida declares that the United States is in a “civilizational struggle” with “radical Islamic terror”.

With a dark background and simple music, Rubio warns that the Paris terrorist attacks could very well occur in the U.S.as well. There is no middle ground.

“These aren’t disgruntled or disempowered people”, he said. “In his new ad, Rubio says that the attackers “want to kill us because we let women drive, because we let girls go to school” and characterizes the state of the world as a battle between freedom and terror”.

The ad, which the Rubio campaign says will run nationwide beginning Tuesday, comes as terrorism takes on increased importance in the presidential campaign.

The ad, which was published on YouTube on Sunday, has attracted over 32,000 views.

Rubio says changes must be made to make the American economy more competitive, to train workers for the skills needed in a new economy, and to bolster national security.

Rubio has seen a surge in polls recently.

Rubio is polling third behind real estate mogul Donald Trump and retired surgeon Ben Carson, according to the most recent poll from ABC and the Washington Post, which had him at 11 percent.

Iowans also believe Rubio is the second-best candidate “ready” to be commander in chief. Cruz had previously voiced opposition to the agreement, but the town hall appeared to be the first time he said how he would vote on it. That dustup centered on Rubio’s membership in the so-called “Gang of Eight” lawmakers that in 2013 proposed a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally, an idea that is anathema to many in the GOP base. Although the comprehensive immigration reform bill passed the Senate, it was never picked up for debate in the House of Representatives. Rubio is in 2nd place after Trump, with 13% who think he’s “best equipped” to handle the US response to the threat of ISIS.