The Republican race for president is already contentious, but things got a little too heated on Thursday night when a staffer for Marco Rubio allegedly punched Rand Paul's national political director in the face.
Early Friday morning, Paul adviser John Yob posted on Twitter and Facebook that Rich Beeson, Rubio's deputy campaign manager, had punched him. Security footage from Horn's Bar on Mackinac Island in Michigan, where they were both hanging out, does seem to show Beeson walking up, punching Yob, and walking away.
Rich Beeson, the CM for Rubio, punched me in the face tonight on Mackinac Island. The Michigan State Police are looking for him. #MIGOP
— John Yob (@strategic) September 18, 2015The staffers were gathered on Mackinac Island for the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, where candidates have traditionally spoken. Campaigns are typically treated like long battles, and candiates routinely attack one another in the press, but it's not exactly common to see them actually come to blows.
Via Yob, here's the video of the alleged punch pic.twitter.com/jsZIVqhstO
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) September 18, 2015At least it was campaign staffers rather than the candidates. But there are 10 more Republican debates, so actual candidate fisticuffs could still happen.
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