Rubio: I would have accepted stimulus dollars

Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R) made a surprising admission on Thursday, he would have accepted federal stimulus funds if he was governor.

Rubio is running against Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) in the state's Senate primary. Crist endorsed the stimulus when it passed in February but has recently backed away from that position.

"Ultimately I would have accepted those portions of the money that would not have put Florida in a worse position off in the future than it is right now," Rubio told a Tampa Bay NBC affiliate.

The federal stimulus package has arguably been the main wedge issue separating Crist and Rubio.

Rubio, who is running to the right of Crist, has been critical of the stimulus package, saying it has failed to turn the economy around and create jobs. The conservative base, which largely supports Rubio, has slammed Crist for backing the bill that was President Barack Obama's first major legislative victory.

UPDATED 6:35 p.m.

Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos countered that the candidate's statement does not conflict with his prior positions.

“Advocating for the stimulus plan and accepting those dollars are not the same," Rubio said in a statement. "The stimulus was a disaster and I would have fought it in every way possible.  But once President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Charlie Crist mandated their mountain of debt, I have said I would have handled the stimulus money the same way real conservative governors like Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin and Haley Barbour have."

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