Will Rubio be the 2016 nominee and then win?

[Jacobtm]

I've been positive Obama will win in 2008 for a long time. Just stand him next to any of the Republican challengers and you see that they just don't compare to him in a personal contest. They're all clowns.

The Presidency has almost always been a One-on-One competition. Democrats learned in '04 that no amount of hate for the incumbent will get a weak challenger elected. Republicans will learn that this year.

Republicans also have become more and more obsessed with conservative litmus tests. In 2008, Romney was the ''conservative'' that many right-wing talking heads turned to to stop McCain. Now he's too moderate. Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry were not sufficiently conservative.

They've become obsessed with these tests of purity that almost any long-serving politician would fail. Which is one reason I see Rubio as such a good candidate for them. Even before entering the Senate, he's been in the spotlight, and he knew it. Under the spotlight the whole time, he's (seemingly) stayed impeccably conservative.

He seems like just their kinda guy. A strident conservative, a strong speaker, a great personal story. You stand him next to any prominent Democrat, and I can't see how the Democrat doesn't look weak next to him.

Has he been stridently conservative enough though? Or are there things that would make some Republicans say ''Oh he's a secret Cuban Marxist sent to take over America in an inside job!''?

[Lambsbread]

No and no.

[Reaganfan]

If Santorum is elected President, Rubio would still be a contender for 2020, unless Santorum's Vice President runs and easily wins the nomination.

That being said, if Obama is re-elected, then Rubio becomes the frontrunner. I think he'd beat out Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Bobby Jindal and others easily. Jeb Bush I'm not so sure about, but I kinda doubt he will run anyways.

[Ljube]

No and no.

[RogueBeaver]

No and no, because he'll be running for a second Senate term.

[Cobbler]

I honestly have the hardest time imagining Rubio as a president for whatever reason.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

No and no, because he'll be running for a second Senate term.

[Хahar 🤔]

America's not ready for a Mexican president.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

You know, the people who are described as frontrunners for entire years usually are going nowhere.

[morgieb]

America's not ready for a Mexican president.

Except he's Cuban....

[memphis]

America's not ready for a Mexican president.

Except he's Cuban....

SarcasmFail

[Is Totally Not Feeblepizza.]

No and no, because he'll be running for a second Senate term.