After months of vague answers to questions concerning his intent in the 2016 election cycle, Sen. Marco Rubio finally gave more concrete indications as to the direction he will move in the coming days and weeks.
An unnamed adviser leaked information to ABC News on Friday that Rubio is taking steps toward a run for the White House, which also could mean he will not be seeking re-election as U.S. Senator from Florida. The adviser told ABC News:
“[He] told us to proceed as if he is running for president.”
And Rubio’s budding A-list of staffers backs up the reality that he is serious about it.
With fellow Floridian Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney already on the warpath to raise double-digit millions, Rubio has tapped Anna Rogers, the finance director for Karl Rove’s American Crossroads, which raised $200 million in 2014.
ABC News revealed that Rubio will be skipping Senate votes this week in favor of continue a number of fundraising trips around the country including Miami, Beverly Hills, Dallas and Chicago. His travel plans in the coming weeks include book tour stops in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada: all early primary states.
Should Rubio ultimately announce for president, the big test will come in his home state when he may end up facing off against Jeb Bush for the critical delegate haul that has historically served as an electoral slingshot into Super Tuesday. And a new Zogby poll, which shows Rubio vaulting to second place behind Romney, may hint at the possible outcome of that match-up.
