Sen. Marco Rubio on Idaho, fatherhood, and why he's not dropping out

Senator Marco Rubio spoke with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton during a visit to Idaho Falls Sunday. Here is a transcript of the interview:

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com reporter: Senator, welcome back to Idaho. We have an election coming up on Tuesday and a lot of Idahoans are unsure who they are going to vote for. What is one thing you would tell them today to get them to vote for you?

Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican presidential candidate: I would tell them I’m as conservative as anyone running but I’m the conservative that can win. I can grow this party and I can unite it. None of the other people left in this race can unite this party and I can grow it. I proved that today in Puerto Rico with over 70 percent of the vote. The Puerto Rican vote is critical in Florida and other key states that we need to win in order to be president so just today I’ve proven that while I’m as conservative as anyone in this field, I’m the conservative that can unite this party and grow it in a way that allows us to win. If any of the other people gets the nomination, we’re probably going to lose to Hillary Clinton. It’s about nominating a conservative but it’s also about winning.

Eaton: You’re down in delegates and Trump is calling for you to drop out.

Rubio: I don’t take advice from Donald Trump but let me just say that this is common in these races. Less than half the delegates have been awarded in terms of the delegates that are in play. Everyone running has a tough path right now in getting to 1,237 delegates and that includes Donald Trump. I have as good of a chance as anybody of being in mix here down the stretch especially now as the map starts getting better for us the states that are now in play and the places that are going to be voting as places we expect to better than we have the past 7-10 days given some of the states that this has been in. We’re not dropping out and we’re working hard. Idaho is important and Idaho is going to have a say in who the nominee is and that’s going to happen Tuesday and I’m asking everyone to come out and vote for me.

Eaton: Idaho is a conservative state and family is important. We often see your family – your wife and your kids. What type of a father are you?

Rubio: I hope a good one. It’s my most important job. My two most important jobs in the world are the role as a husband to my wife and father of my children. The most influence I’ll ever have is over them as they’re growing up. I hope I’m a good example to them and I work hard and instill in them strong values that will allow them to be successful. With kids you get about 14-15 years and then they start gaining some independence so for me it’s the most important job I have.

Eaton: How do you keep in touch with them?

Rubio: We talk a lot on the phone and Skype, FaceTime. They’ve been on the road with me a little too. Obviously now after Idaho we’re going to be going to Florida. We have a primary coming up there on the 15th so I’ll spend some time there on the road as well but yeah, we try to stay in touch every day. I’m still involved in their lives, their academics, their sports – everything else.

Eaton: Can you share with us something we may not know about you? Something you haven’t told anybody?

Rubio: I think as this point there’s not a lot of secrets left about anybody running for president. I just hope people understand what drives me in this race. I just want America to remain the kind of country where parents can do for their children what my parents did for me. My parents were working class people. My dad and mom worked at a hotel, they made a lot of sacrifices so I could have a better life and I just want us to continue to be that kind of country. It’s called the American dream and I fear it’s slipping away. I think we can actually expand it to reach more people than ever before but we have to do it now. It’s in trouble and if Hillary Clinton wins, I think the American dream is in a lot of trouble. We have to nominate someone who just isn’t a conservative, which I am, but we have to nominate someone who can win and I will.

Eaton: Last question: you’re in Idaho. How do you like your potato?

Rubio: (laughter) I like them baked and fried. I think there’s no bad way to eat potatoes.

Eaton: Thank you very much.

Rubio: Thank you.