Marco crosses the Rubio- con
WASHINGTON— Sen. Marco Rubio launched his presidential bid on Monday as a freshfaced defender of the American dream ready to face down Hillary Rodham Clinton and the policies of the past.
Calling his candidacy a “generational choice,” the 43yearold Florida Republican announced his campaign with a strike at the former secretary of state.
“Just yesterday, a leader from yesterday began a campaign for president by promising to take us back to yesterday,” Rubio said to cheers.
“But yesterday is over, and we are never going back.”
Rubio, a firstgeneration Cuban-American, delivered his remarks from Miami’s Freedom Tower, a landmark for Cubans fleeing Fidel Castro’s regime.
Appearing shaky at the start of a less than 20 minute speech, Rubio highlighted his humble beginnings and belief in the American dream.
“I live in an exceptional country where even the son of a bartender and a maid can have the same dreams and the same future as those who come from power and privilege,” he said.
Rubio becomes the third Republican to enter the 2016 race, behind Sen. Ted Cruz ( Texas) and Sen. Rand Paul ( Ky.).
He must also compete with his mentor and fellow Floridian, former Gov. Jeb Bush. Bush, son of President George H. W. Bush, has launched an exploratory committee and has been touring the country.
Rubio, the youngest candidate in the race, said he remained undaunted.
“I’ve heard some suggest that I should step aside and wait my turn, but I cannot,” he said.
“Because I believe our very identity as an exceptional nation is at stake, and I can make a difference as president.”
He sought to use his youth to his advantage and distance himself from the legacy names of Clinton and Bush.
“While our people and economy are pushing the boundaries of the 21st century, too many leaders and their ideas are stuck in the 20th century,” he said.
Democrats quickly tried to portray him as just another Republican who opposes raising the minimum wage, while pushing to repeal ObamaCare and denying climate change.
Before Rubio’s announcement, fellow Floridian and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz tweeted, “It’s important to remember he is no new leader w/ fresh ideas.”
Polls for the Republican nomination show him behind a halfdozen others, including Paul, Bush, Cruz, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Dr. Ben Carson.