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Subscribe to RSSWASHINGTON -- As speculation over Florida Sen. Marco Rubio joining the GOP presidential ticket heats up going into summer, a string of upcoming public appearances has political onlookers opining about the senator's attempts to build his brand for November.
November 2016, that is.
Speaking to a group of influential Iowa business people visiting Capitol Hill Thursday, Rubio delievered a passionate speech that engaged the audience in a way many of the Republicans campaigning in the Hawkeye State last fall never could.
And next Saturday, the junior senator from the Sunshine State will travel to speak at another important early voting state -- the Silver Elephant Dinner in Columbia, SC.
In an address to the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Rubio gave a speech heavy on themes of American exceptionalism and the story of his parent's coming from Cuba to America in search of a better life.
"The American example is powerful, and as I stand before you today there’s still nothing to replace it. If America declines, there’s no one to take our place," said Rubio. "There’s no other country on this planet prepared to be what we once were. If we decline, who rises?"
While Rubio's speech was largely absent of the Iowa pandering that was common place for GOP candidates in the run up to the caucus, the speech has many of the traits of those given by Republicans on the trail. He was, however, introduced by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who addressed the topic that has brought the most attention of late to the freshman senator.
"Somebody might ask him whether or not he's going to run for vice president, I don't know what the answer is, but let me tell you this, let me tell you what I know about Sen. Rubio," said Grassley. "If he decides a call, it's not going to be based upon the Republican candidate for president making that call. It's not going to be based on doing something good for the Republican party. I know Sen. Rubio that he's only going to do it because America calls."
Rubio has repeatedly rebuffed the VP talk, saying he's focused on his job as a senator. And in the coming months he hopes to introduce an alternative to the DREAM Act -- an immigration reform bill that failed to get bipartisan support.
When asked by an Iowan about immigration reform, Rubio indicated that election year politics could be a road block for his forthcoming reputation.
"The White House has been intending to use this issue as a wedge issue in the election. And so they have actively met with many of the kids, advocates, who have pushed for the DREAM Act, and asked them not to work with us," said the Cuban American. "So far that hasn't worked."
However, he also acknowledged the hurdles coming from members of his own party, who feel the top priority of immigration reform needs to be securing the border above all else.
As a high profile Hispanic Republican, Rubio has found himself at the top of many VP short lists. Along with speaking to influential Iowa and South Carolina groups, he also has a book coming out in June.
And two weeks ago he gave a foreign policy address at a Washington think tank, which drew headlines when he had to pause to find the final page of his speech.
"You can just imagine after years of making teleprompter jokes, the critics were merciless. But I really needed that page because it had a quote on it. But today I wanted to give you something meaningful but I didn't want to have that problem, so I brought a one-page speech," he joked.
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Run Marco Run it's never to early to start, just look at Willard...
One thing to remember is you will always have the Blount/Rubio amendment as an albatross hanging around your neck.
Then, there the issue of embellishing when & how you parents came to this country.
Lastly, we will have to wait & see the outcome of using the RNC credit card for personal expenses...
What a stellar record to kick off your campaign! lol
Oh Gosh! Is the GOP promising another clown show?
OK Bring them on...We hopefully will have Hilary Clinton against the GOP Comic Entourage in 2016
Its great that you are an objective voter who has the best interests of the country in your heart otherwise I would suspect you are someone who just blindly votes one party regardless of the candidate even if such candidate had the capabilities of a turd. I assume you wouldnt leap and make a decision against Rubio against an unknown candidate yet right? You would wait and actually find out what the candidates positions and and views on various issues are. Otherwise I would assume you are just a paid troll for the democratic party and god forbid we think that.
So, does this mean that Rubio knows Romney is going to lose? Because otherwise, why would he be worrying about 2016?
Kirk --
That must be true for Republicans, too, because that just about sums up the qualifications of the candidate they ran in 2000 and 2004, and he won.
People who live in glass houses just shouldn't.
Ah, well, then there's Kirk. Yes, I would make a decision against Marco Rubio and any republican as long as they continue down the road they've been travelling for 30 years; as long as they continue to preach fiscal responsibility while spending on the credit card and saying "deficits don't matter" (until a democrat is elected); as long as they continue to go after women's rights and the poor while handing all the tax breaks to the rich and as long as they continue to pound the drums of war, to demand more and more money for the military industrial complex while allowing roads, bridges to crumble and as long as they keep cutting education funding while keeping billions of tax loopholes for the rich. So yes, I will not vote for another repubican until they reform and prove with actions, not words, they have reformed.
Anna Molly--your right it is true. I admit I voted for Bush in 2000 but Kerry in 2004 for those exact same reasons. I also think Clinton was a great president as was Reagan. I vote for a ton of democrats here in Illinois because thats who is in power. So those glass houses are staying intact here.
Jody, you are making wide generalizations that may or may not apply to individual candidates. You dont even know who would run against him in 2016. You make campaign partisan comments that may or may not apply and certainly dont apply at the Rubio level. Rubio cant cut education funding to your local school that is a state and local issue. Rubio isnt preventing education reform, teachers unions and their crony capitalism alliance with local legislators are. What is tax reform increased revenue what would you say then. What if Rubio evolved and said he was pro choice? To be so close minded 4 years without even a candidate running is a serious flaw.
On Election Day 2016 Secretary Clinton will be 69 years old. Will she want to run 4 years from now and do we want a "Royal Family" from the Democrats?
AM, by the way I have said over and over that Bush was a horrible president. Stop expecting every person who doesnt like the direction that Obama is taking us to be a Bush apologist or supporter. Many of us "evolve" and discovered that Bush wasnt a fiscal conservative and he represented the worst of both worlds for many us who vote both parties. Bush was a social conservative and fiscal deficit spender and made many bad judgements regarding national security (not all of which were bad). Obama has many fine qualities and I have given him credit on several issues including social issues and health care (but only partially). I respect more the partisan voter that says my vote is based solely on Obama being pro choice or probably you Anna Molly who says its based on his pro labor positions than Fiesty, Backhouse and others who just campaign and claim that Obama is 100% correct on every issue that MSNBC brings here. Its ludicrous and not credible.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Lastly, we will have to wait & see the outcome of using the RNC credit card for personal expenses...
What a stellar record to kick off your campaign! lol
Exactly, Feisty
And let's not forget his questionable relationship with his aide, health care lobbyist, and apparent travel companion Amber Stoner. Or his opposition to the historic Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/tag/memoir/
For a guy who keeps insisting he has no interest in being vice president, Rubio appears to be run furiously at every chance he gets to the mic for the job .
BTW: what has Rubio accomplished since being in the Senate?
Bev, thats it exactly! What has he accomplished? I've heard nothing?
I dunno...
Sticking his foot in his mouth?
It will be hard for Rubio to run on anything. Waiting for 2016 will not give the public enough time to forget his failures or his lack of conviction on issues. Rubio would be smart to just enjoy retirement in 2016.
Jody - well put, as always.
Kirk -- Exactly where in my post did I accuse you of voting for Bush?
I don't like everything President Obama does, either. But in almost every election in which I've ever voted -- notice that I said almost -- I have truly believed that the Democratic candidate was superior to the Republican candidate. Maybe Dukakis in 1988 was not, but i'm not even sure about that anymore.
Maybe when this boy wonder grows up he may have a chance, but before that happens he has a lot to learn. He is not the best or the brightest, and is only being pushed because he's an Hispanic. The Cubans will push him here in Florida, but they are not the largest group by far in the Latino world and he is far from a favorite with Latinos in general. So far his conservative record will be a negative. If he were to evolve and do a 360, the Cubans will disown him, either way he will just be a pretty boy and not go far.
Is that all you've got to whine about? Someone gets there before you and so you complain. How pathetic. This is a damn discussion board, not the express line at Walmart.
Tony, anybody could be "first" who wants to. I'm not going to tell you how, because I like Feisty being "first" who's politics tend to agree with mine.
Fisted Redhead in Roselle..as opposed to Obama? The one thing you can say about him since leaving the Senate is that he has spent Trillions of dollars we don't have and lowered his golf handicap by at least 4 strokes. Oh, and that he fantasizes about women who don't really exist except in his book. I believe the clinical term is Delusional, like you.
Hint of 2016 = expect Romney to lose
EXACTLY.
Hi Dennis,
I really didn't see anything in the article where Rubio mentioned a run or even a possible run in 2016. I believe it is something that the pundits would like to keep going because Rubio might be considered for the VP spot. But I doubt if Rubio would accept the VP spot and he won't, if Romney looses, run in 2016.
Hi Sarge,
If the 2016 election is an “open” election then I suspect that Rubio might run – if for no other reason to get a greater name and position recognition.
But at his age there is no hurry. He will be 41 this month so he could run for the next 28+ years.
Romney's already lost. This should come as no surprise that his own party is bailing on him. Look at the writing on the wall. First Daniels, then Christie and now this clown. They know it's over for 2012, but won't admit it.
Well, so much for 2012. Time to move on to 2016 and speculate.
Yet another instance where the First Read headline doesnt really match the substance of the article itself...and is spun to the benefit of Obama's reelection.
"a string of upcoming public appearances has political onlookers opining about the senator's attempts to build his brand for November. November 2016, that is."
"Political onlooker" --David Axelrod
Nothing beyond the fact Rubio is speaking in Iowa and SC indicates anything about 2016....or indicates that he is not a top candidate for VP in 2012....
Maybe David Axelrod only scans the headlines when he reviews whether his morning talking points have been utilized by MSNBC...
Willard is not going to like his little man running around taking like this.
Lighten up, Francis.
V-Bob, Are you giving up on McConnell?
Poor Bob, he's having a tough time these days, all his candidates DOA......better luck down the long road.
Yep. Sucks to be a rwnj these days.
Rubio, no one has to say more than that name to know what a slimeball he is! Another bag of hot gas! Just like his big brother willardo! What a pair of south of the border brother's! Rube, you had better stay a senator, at least till you are fired. America will not tollerate your idiotic budget proposals! Dont go away mad, just go the hell away! That goes for your brother Willardo, also!
Grassly should drop the GR, that would fit him much better! What an asshead!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 FOR YOUR TOMORROW!!! HILLARY 2016 FOR YOUR FUTURE!!!
.
that was a profound statement. Care to expand on that?
The only call that Americans want from Rubio is for him to pay back all the Money he and his family took from benefits and freebees of education and medical while he and they lied about being EXHILE's vice their real status as immigrants back in the mid 1960's. Lots of illlegal money and benefits filled the Rubio's pockets under false pretenses. Write a book about that Rubio.
Romney will win in 2012. The economy is in shambles and getting worse. The Euro is dying and China is slowing down. If only we nominated Romney in 2008, we would have had only the worry of what to do with all the extra income we're earning at our new jobs.
Rubio, another exlax SUPERPAC PUPPET, heading of IOWA? He better stay home & try to explain to his people, why the corrupt Republican OIL & FINANCIAL corporates brought on GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, that's going to take us down next!
99% American People, vote 100% STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC, the lives you save WILL be YOURS & your CHILDREN! Let's rid ourselves of the corrupt Republican corporates & their political puppets that have been STEALING from us, THE SAME PEOPLE THAT MADE THEM SUCCESSFUL!!
President Romney. Now that sounds like a leader.
Obama sounds like something you spread on a cracker.
TO: Edward-1075991 who wrote:
Maybe, if you're an idiot.
Romney is a CARPETBAGGER!
Obama/Biden 2012
Senor Bishop Willard( I flip flop on my name) Romney. Now that sounds like a looser.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
The correct spelling is 'loser' loser
It's not called flip-flopping anymore. It's now called EVOLVING. Please try to keep up.