Senator Marco Rubio today wouldn’t say, when asked twice, that Donald Trump will keep America safe. Or that Trump would be a good role model.

NEWS: RUBIO, when I asked twice if Trump would keep country safe, won't say. Also won't say if Trump is a role model. Next on @OutFrontCNN.

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 27, 2016

Here’s more from CNN:

“The military is what keeps (the country) safe,” Rubio told reporters in Naples, Florida. “We have to rebuild our military and (Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton) is a supporter of the defense cuts and the sequester which would be damaging to our country.”

Rubio, who ran against Trump in the Republican primary and dropped out in March, also repeatedly dodged questions about whether Trump would be someone children could look up to.

“People know I have strong disagreements with both candidates in this race,” he said. “I think Hillary Clinton would be a terrible role model in terms of the things she has done while in office. She destroyed emails and evidence while she was under investigation. And her policies are bad too.”

And when a CNN reporter repeated the question, he dodged it again.

“Like most Americans, people look at this and say, ‘These are not ideal choices,'” he responded.

How could he answer that question? As Sarah Quinlan of blog The Buckley Club said on Twitter:

I'm a bad liar too, Rubio. Just can't fake it and say something I don't truly believe. https://t.co/bf6quQfUc1

— Sarah Quinlan (@sarahmquinlan) October 27, 2016

He has to walk the line between outright lying (ie Trump is good for America) and actively opposing Trump (ie Trump is a train wreck and we’re doomed [aka The Truth]). Because that’s 2016.

Rubio has to win his race. Walking that line is crucial. A big slobbery kiss to Trump won’t pay off for him in Florida in the long term, no matter what happens on election day.