Rubio Sees ‘Political Advantage’ In Talking National Security After Paris (VIDEO)

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Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has found a silver lining in the Paris terror attacks that left 130 people dead: he said the violence prompted Americans to have a serious conversation about national security, and he suggested that conversation in turn has benefited his presidential campaign.

Rubio made the comment while discussing his rising poll numbers with “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace. When Wallace asked whether Rubio thought his foreign policy credentials gave him a polling boost in the wake of the Nov. 13 terror attacks, the Florida Republican replied that his team doesn’t put much stock in polls that were “going to fluctuate” this early in the primary race.

He went on to argue that the attacks led to a “positive” shift to national security in the political conversation, one he wanted to see continue “not just for political advantage.”

“I obviously am not happy about the events that happened last week in Paris,” Rubio told Wallace. “But I think it’s a positive development that it suddenly has forced Americans to confront more carefully the issue of national security because it is the most important thing a President will do and it is the most important function of the federal government.”

“I hope that we focus on that note more, not just for political advantage but because the world has become a very dangerous place,” he added.

Watch below at the 9:20 mark:

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