--- title: Marco Rubio Gives the Boot to Mocked Footwear description: Voter in New Hampshire praises the White House hopeful for ditching heeled boots, which won him some ribbing. canonical: https://time.com/4171749/marco-rubio-boots/ author: Philip Elliott article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-01-07T19:24:21.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:43:48.345Z article:section: Politics og:title: Marco Rubio Gives the Boot to Mocked Footwear og:description: "Have people lost their minds?" og:url: https://time.com/4171749/marco-rubio-boots/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt504d6f8dc346d38f/69887810ab6d7700076a7dea/marco-rubio-shoes.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks to guests during a rally on January 6, 2016 in Marshalltown, Iowa. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Marco Rubio Gives the Boot to Mocked Footwear twitter:description: "Have people lost their minds?" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt504d6f8dc346d38f/69887810ab6d7700076a7dea/marco-rubio-shoes.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Marco Rubio Gives the Boot to Mocked Footwear > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=0d1355af-5fe3-45e4-91bf-f70e0a354fb6&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=0d1355af-5fe3-45e4-91bf-f70e0a354fb6&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=0d1355af-5fe3-45e4-91bf-f70e0a354fb6&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.  by [Philip Elliott / Nashua, N.H.](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott / Nashua, N.H. Senior Correspondent Jan 7, 2016 7:24 PM UTC  Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks to guests during a rally on January 6, 2016 in Marshalltown, Iowa. Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks to guests during a rally on January 6, 2016 in Marshalltown, Iowa. Scott Olson—Getty Images  by [Philip Elliott / Nashua, N.H.](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott / Nashua, N.H. Senior Correspondent Jan 7, 2016 7:24 PM UTC Amid questions about tensions in the Middle East and research dollars for Alzheimer’s, Marco Rubio on Thursday fielded a question about his shoes. Yes, his shoes. The White House candidate is campaigning in show-covered New Hampshire, where voters are scheduled to cast their ballots on Feb. 9\. As is custom, Rubio opens his events for questions and comments from all comers. And one voter in Nashua, New Hampshire, wanted to praise Rubio’s decision to ditch a pair of heeled boots that won him mockery online. “You made a better shoe choice today,” the man told Rubio. The first-term Senator had a chuckle about it and tried to be a good sport. “So let me get this right: ISIS is cutting people’s heads off, setting people on fire in cages. Saudi Arabia and Iran are on the verge of war. The Chinese are landing airplanes on islands that they built,” Rubio said, forcing a smile. “Our economy is flat-lined, the stock market is falling apart. But, boy, are we getting a ton of coverage about a pair of boots. This is craziness. Have people lost their minds?” ### Why Republicans Run in Cowboy Boots  Like a lot of Republican ideas, the trend toward wearing cowboy boots began with Ronald Reagan. Popperfoto/Getty Images  President George W. Bush, showing off boots with the presidential seal here at his inauguration, furthered the trend. Pablo Martinez Monsivais—AP  Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, shown here on the stump in Iowa, favored cowboy boots. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images  They're also a favored fashion statement for former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. NBC News/Getty Images  Even former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was known to sport a pair. Jose Luis Magana—AP  It's not just men. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been known to put on a pair of cowboy boots. Jeff J. Newman—ZUMA Press/Corbis  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee also goes for the look. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  Like his predecessor, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry long favored cowboy boots, but he's no longer able to wear them. Tom Worner—AP  Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is also a fan. Charlie Neibergall—AP  Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul also favors boots with blue jeans, a classic Western look. Charles Ommanney—Getty Images  These days, if you're running for president as a Republican, chance are good that you are wearing cowboy boots. Richard Shiro—AP  Even Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has been known to wear them. J.D. Pooley—Getty Images The minor brouhaha started Monday, when a New York _Times_ political correspondent [tweeted](https://twitter.com/mikiebarb/status/684122644250255364) a picture of the black boots. It quickly became a Thing in this campaign. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul called them [cute](https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/684769089684946944). Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said his own shoes weren’t high-heeled. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s spokesman [said](https://twitter.com/rickwtyler/status/684502404016902144) “a vote for Marco Rubio is a vote for men’s high-heeled booties. Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina [asked](https://twitter.com/CarlyFiorina/status/684817702368731136?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) Rubio is he could wear boots with heels as high as hers. ANd Politico tracked down the maker: Florsheim. The whole incident was a reminder that politics can be petty and trivial. “I got a chuckle out of it,” Rubio insisted, while wearing a different pair of shoes. “Who knows? Maybe they’ll make a comeback soon. Stay tuned.” **Read More:** [_Republicans Fight to Be the Not-Trump in New Hampshire_](http://time.com/4170578/donald-trump-new-hampshire-second-place/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4171749/marco-rubio-boots/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4171749/marco-rubio-boots/"},"headline":"Marco Rubio Gives the Boot to Mocked Footwear","datePublished":"2016-01-07T19:24:21.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-19T07:43:48.345Z","description":"'Have people lost their minds?'","url":"https://time.com/4171749/marco-rubio-boots/","keywords":["2016 Election","Sen. Marco Rubio","new hampshire"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt504d6f8dc346d38f/69887810ab6d7700076a7dea/marco-rubio-shoes.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Philip Elliott / Nashua, N.H."}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt504d6f8dc346d38f/69887810ab6d7700076a7dea/marco-rubio-shoes.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks to guests during a rally on January 6, 2016 in Marshalltown, Iowa.","caption":"Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks to guests during a rally on January 6, 2016 in Marshalltown, Iowa.","creditText":"Scott Olson—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4171749/marco-rubio-boots/","name":"Marco Rubio Gives the Boot to Mocked Footwear"}}]}] ```