Rubio trip to Iowa stirring talk of '16
(CNN) - Word of Republican Sen. Marco Rubio's trip to Iowa next weekend has many people who cover campaign politics buzzing.
The popular freshman senator from Florida will headline a birthday fundraiser for Terry Branstad, the Hawkeye State's GOP governor. Since Iowa holds the first contest in the caucus and primary calendar, Thursday's announcement is stirring talk of a possible bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
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But is such talk premature?
"I think it's way too soon to talk about 2016 implications, beyond the obvious fact that it never hurts to have friends in Iowa. This will likely be a quick trip just for the dinner, and he doesn't have any other travel planned," a source close to the senator told CNN.
So how did the invitation come about?
The source says "Gov. Branstad ran into Sen. Rubio at the Republican convention in Tampa and asked him to headline the annual dinner. We made sure it would work on his schedule, and then accepted the invite."
Rubio is considered a rising star in the party, he was a top surrogate for Republican nominee Mitt Romney, and his name was in the mix as Romney's running mate.
As for the event, what a difference a year makes.
At last year's fundraiser, which came during the height of the battle for GOP nomination and just weeks before the Iowa caucuses, six of the Republican presidential hopefuls had speaking slots, with the exception of eventual nominee Mitt Romney. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich showed up late to the event, and did not give remarks.
- CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this story
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Shows the gop is desparate if Rubio tries to run. People dont vote ethnicity they vote for a candidate. If you dont believe me ask Herman Cain.
Rubio is another accomplished GOP liar, and like Romney, he'll never be President. When the nation elects its first Hispanic president, the individual will undoubtedly be a Democrat.
Rubio, HA. Republicans are just trying to groom are more altruistic and friendly seeming puppet than the last one, Romney. I'm not fooled and Latinos should not be fooled, either.
Rubio's support among Latinos that are not of Cuban descent is SMALL. He should know this. But, the fact that he's allowing himself to be egged on, "You can do it." speaks volumes about his judgement and the ability to make his own calls.
This dude has some skeletons in his closet that are going to come out. We'll see if he gets any traction.....Just don't like this guys....makes the hair on the back of my neck stand.
Rubio need to be in Washington working with the president n democrats on this fiscal cliff stuff. Instead of going to fundraiser dinners tryn to make friends.
Hilarious. I ain't saying they are only thinking about Rubio to try and steal some hispanic votes, but that would only assume that hispanics only vote for other hispanics. Those types of assumptions are only made by conservatives.
What I will say is that they will be shocked when they find out about Rubio's immigration ideas.
Yeah, he should be more worried about 2014. His lie about his parents' immigrant status came out following the 2010 election, and a great many Cuban-Americans are furious and have no intention of voting for him again!
I didn't even bother to read this because it's not worth my time.
Rubio won't run. Repeat: Rubio won't run. He has too much baggage and I think the republicans have learned from the mistake of running Willard, and will not make that mistake again. They will run someone with a little "less baggage" whose able to connect with the public and keep their base happy. Mark my words, it will be Chris Christie (even if they are upset at him now). They'll get over it and realize he is their only hope.
I predicted in 2008 the day right after the election that Palin would never run again and was right. I'll be right again on Rubio.
Just because someone is hispanic does not mean the the hispanic block is going to rollover in awe and vote for him/her.
Much less Rubio, an empty suit willing to be filled with whatever his Master wishes. The GOP is TOTALLY out of control grasping at straws. They have NO idea as to what to do.
Their Base believes that Romney lost because he was NOT conservative enough. I hope they continue to follow their hearts so that DEMS can continue to win elections.
GOP has now become a laughing stock. Didn't they try to use Michael Steele to attract blacks. How many did he bring to the party? Desperation is a very bad disease.
@ghostriter Why wouldn't Hispanics vote for Rubio? Almost all African Americans voted for Obama. And that's a fact.
hmmmm.... democrats think there are right and wrong kinds of hispanics, jusy like they think there are right and wrong kinds of blacks. republican blacks and hispanics are artifical and automatically bad, democrat blacks and hispanics are real authentic blacks and hispanics. sounds a tad racist and bigoted if you ask me.
Please give us a break.
Love Rubio! The irony about the Hispanic vote is that they will be the first ones to be affected by Obamacare. Small businesses will stop hiring and they won't be able to get a job. Then they won't be able to afford to buy health insurance and the IRS will fine them. Then they'll move back to Mexico because they will have a better life there – so their votes for Obama just helped them deport themselves. They voted for the wrong party!
Since right wingnuts did not take the failed governorship of Romney in MA as a clue to his inability to govern, the same wingnuts will never listen to the advice of Floridians about the lack of leadership qualities in tea party love child Rubio.
Rubio is a tea party favorite.
Bob
@ghostriter Why wouldn't Hispanics vote for Rubio? Almost all African Americans voted for Obama. And that's a fact.
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Here's another fact. 77% of Latinos voted for the black guy. Once you figure that out, you'll answer your own question.
HINT: Don't think like a hard line conservative.
Give it a rest, Rubio!
Rubio has no chance of winning against the democrats. The formidabe GOP candidates, I think, are jeb Bush or Chris Christie. rubio may get a split of the Latino votes but cannot win the election.
Good Luck !
People of Mexican , Puerto Rican, Dominican decent will never vote for a Cuban such as Rubio .
Desperation! Rubio won't help the GOP get the majority of Latino votes; he's Cuban. Only Cubans voted for the GOP in large numbers.
Better wait for 2024 because in 2016 the title will be Mrs. Clinton, Madame President.
Well then I guess it's time to start mobilizing to defeat the enemy first in 2014 and then again in 2016.
It is getting funnier and funnier. I can't imagine Rubio going toe in toe with Hillary Clinton and expect to emerge as a winner.
One thing is for sure, there will be more Hispanic voters on 2016...