Lincoln Day Dinner with Marco Rubio, Carlos Lopez-Cantera

Now that they are competing for the same job, Sen. Marco Rubio will not let Sen. Ted Cruz take his place this year at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, the biggest fundraiser thrown every year by the Miami-Dade Republican Party.

But it’s not an endorsement or a slight on former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Rubio was announced as the speaker at last year’s dinner — which is the county party’s largest fundraiser — but a date had not been solidified for June. By the time it was, it was not the only Saturday the senator had available. So the other Cuban-American Republican Senator came instead — and Rubio was scheduled for this year.

It was serendipity. Now that Rubio is a presidential contender, not just a one-time VP finalist, his keynote speech may be fueling ticket sales.

“All indicators are that we will have more people than last year,” said Miami-Dade Republican Party Chairman Nelson Diaz, adding that the local REC raised $120,000 in 2014. “We already sold 50% of what we did last year and we have a little more than a month to go.”

The big tables are already bought — the $20,000 table that sits you with Rubio and gets you a selfie with him and the $5,000 table that sits you with a Florida cabinet member, likely Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who is an “honored guest” and is widely rumored to be seeking Rubio’s Senate seat and may announce at this event.

A regular table full of nobodies will run you $1,500, or $150 a ticket if there aren’t 10 of you wanting to go. VIP tickets cost $300 and get you a private reception with Rubio and C-Lo before the dinner and an opportunity for a photo-op.

But Diaz said he would expect the same kind of excitement for Bush, who will be at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Lincoln Day Dinner this weekend.

“People would come for Jeb as well. He’s a superstar,” said Diaz, who worked for Rubio when the senator was the Speaker of the Florida House and is still a friend.

“Maybe we can get Jeb next year,” Diaz told Ladra. “Or maybe we start a mid-year event and call it Reagan Day.”

Maybe then Jeb’s allies will go. Because it sorta looks like our local GOP congress members are skipping Rubio’s speech.

Congressman Carlos Curbelo told Diaz he would be out of town. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said that one of her children will be in town and she will be spending quality family time.

“We haven’t heard yet from Mario,” Diaz said, referring to one of the Diaz-Balart brothers, the one who is in office now.

But while there may not be a lot of DC Republicans, Tallahassee should definitely be in the house — which will be at the Doubletree Hotel, 711 NW 72nd Ave.

The event Jan. 20 is also the day after the Florida special sessions ends — which makes it a sort of welcome hope party for our state legislators.

Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Miami-Dade Republican Party

Lincoln Day Dinner with Marco Rubio, Carlos Lopez-Cantera added by Ladra on May 13, 2015
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