This is interesting as a sign of where Rubio thinks things will go for Republicans in the future.
Quote:Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has hired a powerful firebrand conservative to be his new chief of staff, a sign he wants to renew his position on the right with an eye on his political future.
Rubio announced Tuesday afternoon that he was bringing on Michael Needham, until recently the head of the powerful Heritage Action for America, to run his Senate office.
That’s a somewhat surprising pairing, given Rubio’s establishment-leaning reputation. Needham has long been a thorn in the side of GOP leaders, cheerleading for the 2013 government shutdown and rabble-rousing against congressional Republicans from the right on a host of issues throughout his career.
TPM
Heritage Action is a fairly recent creation. It's about as extreme as it gets in the think tank/activist universe. It was begun with a half million dollar donation from the Koch's.
Rubio is not stupid, politically speaking, in aligning himself with this crowd. It is now the power center of the American right and the GOP.