Marco Rubio Telling Supporters He'll Run for President, New York Times Reports

Ashley Parker over at the New York Times is reporting that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is telling supporters that he is committed to running for president, not re-election to the Senate in 2016 despite former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., also expected to run for the Republican nomination.

Parker writes:

Rubio is racing ahead like a man gearing up for a presidential run. His mini-tour for American Dreams his new book, which reads like a blueprint of policy prescriptions for a presidential bid has taken him through the first four nominating states in the 2016 Republican primary season.

And though he is not expected to make any official announcement until April, he is quietly telling donors that he is committed to running for president, not re-election to the Senate. (During a stop in Las Vegas, Mr. Rubio met privately with Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate and major Republican donor. Neither Mr. Rubio nor Mr. Adelsons team would comment on what the two men had discussed.)

At a seminar last month hosted by the billionaire brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch, Mr. Rubio impressed the powerful crowd. Later, at a panel convened by Frank Luntz, the Republican pollster, donors by a show of hands said Mr. Rubio had overwhelmingly performed the best among the 2016 hopefuls invited.

Mr. Rubios team, as well as other Republican operatives and donors, point out that Mr. Rubio, while not as well known among voters as some of his potential rivals, is generally well liked and in the top tier when it comes to favorability.

We keep talking about growing the tent of the Republican Party and bringing in new folks, said Spencer Zwick, Mitt Romneys longtime finance chief, who is now a coveted Republican operative. I think Marco can be a candidate to bring that excitement and energy needed to win a general election.

Mr. Rubios personal story that as the son of immigrant parents, a bartender and a maid, he wants the next generation to have the same opportunities he enjoyed resonates with voters in an emotional way, Mr. Luntz said. On income inequality, which is shaping up to be one of the major issues of 2016, Mr. Luntz added: Other candidates can talk about it. He actually lived it.

The full article can be read here.