With U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., expected to launch a presidential bid at an event in Miami on April 13, another likely Republican presidential candidate says he is going to ponder it for while even as he looks ready to run.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., appeared on Hugh Hewitts national radio talk-show on Monday and was asked about his and Rubios presidential plans. Bush and Rubio have often been allied during their time together on the political stage. Back in December, Bush announced an exploratory committee but has not officially launched his presidential efforts.
Calling Bush a probable candidate, Hewitt asked where things currently stood. Youre not official yet, are you?"
Not today, Bush replied.
Not today, Hewitt repeated before turning his attention to reports that Rubio was going to announce on April 13 at an event at the Freedom Tower in Miami. You know that Marco Rubio is said to be announcing on April the 13th. Did you catch that today?"
I did," Bush replied.
And so youre going to beat him to the punch? Hewitt asked. Or are you going to wait a little bit?"
Im going to ponder it for a while, Bush answered.
In the meantime, Rubio continues to hype up the event in Miami. On Tuesday, Rubio sent an email to supporters claiming he will have a big announcement on April 13 though he continues to leave the door open to running for a second Senate term.
Appearing on Fox News on Monday, Rubio left open the possibility that he could still run for the Senate.
"I will announce on April 13 what I'm going to do next in terms of running for president or the U.S. Senate, Rubio said. So we're going to formally announce that on the 13th.
In the meantime, other candidates are also looking at jumping in during the days to come, joining U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as active candidates. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is expected to enter the race on April 7. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorinia said this weekend it is 90 percent likely she will enter the race. Former Gov. George Pataki, R-N.Y., told the media this week he is more likely to run for president than not. Dr. Ben Carson will be holding a conference call with supporters on Tuesday night as he nears a presidential launch. Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also are inching nearer entering the race.
Appearing on Face the Nation on Sunday, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., also signaled that it was likely he would run again and insisted he had a strong base of support.
"I think the untold secret is that a lot of the support that I had and that I anticipate that I will have is from the working-class, blue-collar people who grew up a lot like I did, not blue blood, but blue-collar," Huckabee said. And there's a real sense in the Republican Party that there's no one speaking not only to them, but speaking for them.
"And if someone can capture both the blue-collar working-class Republicans, the conservatives, many of them even union members, as well as evangelicals, there's real pathway to the nomination, Huckabee added.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
