Will he? Or won’t he? That is the $100 million campaign question.
Odds are that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will, indeed, announce his long-desired presidential run next month at a press event at the celebrated Freedom Tower — a great possible backdrop for his important announcement, since it was the beacon that received and processed many of the first Cuban exiles in the early 1960s and Rubio is an American son of Cuban immigrants.
According to the Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith, Rubio’s camp has reserved the historic, downtown, bayside building for April 13.
Some might think it’s time for Marquito to squat or get off the pot. A potential VP contender in 2012, Rubio became a national media darling and was one of the first names floated as a possible Republican nominee for POTUS early on about a year ago.
Then Ted Cruz comes around and bang! After being in office only two years, the other Cuban Republican senator announces he is running for president about a week ago. No exploratory committee like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and millionaire Donald Trump. No hemming and hawing. He’s just doing it. ¿Que se ha creido?
Another GOP hopeful, Rand Paul, is expected to announce April 7th and the leading Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, is also rumored to be making it official later next month.
So observers say the timing sounds about right for a Rubio rollout. They say that’s why he is 
selling the Tallahassee house he owns with former Congressman David Rivera, who used to be his roommate when they both served in the state House. They say his book tour has been about building his profile and good will and that it’s no coincidence the first book tour was during the time he was being considered for VP.
But Rubio — who sprang into politics as a West Miami city commissioner in 1998 — could just as easily be calling things off.
If he were successful in a presidential run, Rubio, 43, would share the claim of youngest POTUS elected to office with John F. Kennedy. In other words, he has plenty of time. He could just as easily announce a run for Florida governor.
In fact, Ladra thinks that even if he does run for president, he’s got the Governor’s mansion in Tallahassee in his sights as Plan B.
Think about it: He’s ridiculously young for his tenure. He’s Hispanic. He’s been considered for the jobs of VP and POTUS. Rubio is naturally the front runner going into 2018. Especially if he’s riding the publicity of a presidential nomination run.
And there is nobody else on the Republican bench, unless you seriously think that Attorney General Pam “Barbie Doll” Bondi or ginger Adam Putnam, the agricultural commissioner in charge of cows and avocados and what not, can get elected. Might as well hand the mansion over to the Democrats.
Rubio insiders insist that nothing has been decided. But fans and a couple of people close to him say that he really has no choice but to give it a go. Even though he’s reportedly sliding in poll after poll, and despite his disappointing positions on things like climate change and marriage equality, the extremely charismatic and soft on the eyes Rubio still generates a lot of excitement as a true contender who represents the new and diversifying GOP.
Here’s an idea: Rubio should announce the opening of a campaign headquarters in Miami. Whether he is running for president or for the governor’s seat, Rubio should base his operation in his stronghold.
That would make for a welcome announcement right there.
Marco Rubio may announce run soon — for Prez? Or Gov? added by Ladra on
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