AMAC Survey Surprise Shows Rubio with Big, Early Lead in Possible Race for 2016 GOP Presidential Nomination –
Widespread social media speculation focuses on ultimate Clinton-Rubio face-off –
BOHEMIA, NY, Feb 8 – “Older Americans apparently believe Marco Rubio has got what it takes to set things right when Obama leaves office in 2016,” according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens.
AMAC conducted a survey [www.amac.us/member-polls-archive] of members and visitors to its Web site this week and 49% of them [3,155 of the 6,438 respondents] chose Rubio from a field of 12 potential GOP Presidential Nominees three years hence. Weber pointed out that Jeb Bush, former governor of Rubio’s home state of Florida, is considered an important rival for the top spot on the next Republican ticket, but noted that Bush garnered just 339 votes [5%] in the association’s survey.
Meanwhile, the “twitter world” was abuzz last week after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Senate testimony on Benghazi with speculation on a face-off between Clinton and Rubio in the 2016 campaign.
One in-the-know “twitterer,” Weekly Standard columnist Steve Hayes posted this quick note: “Marco Rubio questioning HRC [Clinton]. His first year in Senate – head down, low-profile, hard work, policy focus – modeled on her first year.”
Republican strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos said in a report after the hearing: “He [Marco Rubio] may not only compete in a general election, he may lead the nation someday. He has to demonstrate that he is a potential president and not a partisan politician. If you want to be president, you have to act like someone who could represent the entire nation.”
Weber said that the AMAC survey mirrored other polls showing that Rubio tops Bush as a favorite by double-digit percentages, including a straw poll of 450 Washington State GOP leaders who gathered at Ocean Shores, WA last weekend. Florida Senator Marco Rubio came in first in that survey.
The contenders in the association’s poll were Marco Rubio, with 49%, Paul Ryan, with 17%, Scott Walker, with 7%, Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum with 6% each, Jeb Bush, with 5%, Chris Christie, with 4%, Nikki Haley with 2%, and Bob McDonnell, John Thune, Mike Pence and Kelly Ayotte each with 1%.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Dan Weber is available for telephone interviews on this issue. Editors/reporters may contact John Grimaldi at 917-846-8485 or [email protected] to set up a chat.
ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [http://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital and conservative alternative to those organizations, such as AARP, that dominate the choices for mature Americans who want a say in the future of the nation. Where those other organizations may boast of their power to set the agendas for their memberships, AMAC takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests, and offering a conservative insight on how to best solve the problems they face today.
I Like Marco Rubio, but he is not eligible to be our President. He is very very smart and I think he has great ideas, but the bottom line is he cannot run for the presidency. We cannot have a double standard here folks. If we change the rule of law to suit our need, we are no better than the Obozo administration and all of his minions.
Marco Rubio is indeed eligible to run. He was born in Florida to legal resident parents (both).
Here is his history from Widipedia: His parents did not become US citizens until 4 years after he was born: “Rubio was born in Miami, Florida,[5] the second son and third child of Mario Rubio and Oria Garcia. His parents were Cubans who had immigrated to the United States in 1956 and were naturalized as U.S. citizens in 1975.”
Yes, Marco’s parents were both legal residents and he was born in the United States.
They are NOW legal, but WHEN did they BECOME legal? What part of a time chronology do you not understand?
You obviously do not understand the concerns people have about this. His parents were NOT us citizens at the time of his birth.
I suppose that does not matter to you. If not, then why worry about Obama?
I have been much more concerned about the President’s unconstitutional actions in office(like recess appointments when the Senate is not in recess) than his origins. However, If he’s so smart, Why not release college transcripts? This is not private information. Papers written, classes taken and grades earned for most people would be open. I suspect that his foreign student ID and/or financing would come to light. I’d be interested to see positions taken in theses, so that non-fawning media types could ask if those positions had changed so we could learn a little more about Obama, but then if this occurred before 2008, he might not have been elected. Like fraudulently attending college as a foreign student and funded as one or fraudulently running for president on a bogus birth certificate. He would have had to come clean on this if not for willing accomplices in the propaganda media.
The actions of this President since he’s gained office are the very reason our Constitution does not want Presidential candidates who have no loyalty to this country! Thus the requirement for two U.S. citizen parents at the time of birth.
Is that the requirement, or is only a natural US birth required? If the latter then there are lot of children of illegals who could be running for the highest office. Some people sneak into this country just to birth their children as US citizens in an attempt to give them a better future.
I’m glad to know that you are smarter than the United States Supreme Court. You probably watch the UFO’s on a daily basis as well. The planet would not be safe without people like you.
I believe the records show that his parents were Cuban, not American, at the time that Marco Rubio was born, then later naturalized. That, of course, is still a huge step up from Obama’s unknown and hidden heritage, but the Constitution requires that an eligible candidate be BORN of two U.S. citizens. Orly Taitz’s eligibility case against Obama was supposed to be on the Supreme Court’s Docket yesterday, but I haven’t yet heard a word about it. I still don’t understand how in “blue blazes” Obama’s candidacy was accepted – twice! – without any proof of NB citizenship!?
Yes, you are correct on the records. Just read the “official” history in the Wikipedia article I cited. They did not become citizens until 4 years after his birth if I am not mistaken.
And, if what you say is correct, this whole thread is a huge waste of time. He can not run. Why then did AMAC even bother to post it up? I thought AMAC supported our constitution. Or, are they willing to bend the rules for a GOP favorite?
I like Marco Rubio. But he is NOT eligible to be our President. We cannot have a double standard here folks. I think he has a lot of great ideas and I think he is very very smart. But the bottom line is HE IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE OUR PRESIDENT.
you may call him {MARCO RUBIO} not ELIGIBLE , BUT THIS GUY HAS MORE SAVY ON HOW TO RUN A COUNTRY MUCH BETTER THAN THESE IDIOTS THAT ARE RUINING IT NOW.
Wow! So you people are willing to accept an “illegal” that is a Republican but not an “illegal” that is a Democrat? What a double standard. And, shouting only does further damage to your “credibility”. I normally don’t even bother to read comments written by people who scream.
The difference in the candidates is not the Democrat or Republican label! The difference is one person whose parents are not nor have ever been citizens of the U.S., and who is a Muslim pushing Shariah in the U.S., versus a candidate whose parents are both U.S. citizens, even though naturalized, who is openly pushing U.S. and Judao-Christian values, who is smart about the economy and the state of the country, and who is not hiding his background. Rubio has no known ties to the American Communist Party, to Frank Marshall and Marxism, to Shariah law.
Who’s saying anything about a”2016 election”. Let’s not be presumptuous here. If the commander in chief has his way, he’ll make an executive order putting him in office indefinitely. You’ve seen how the constitution has been scrubbed in other matters, so it wouldn’t surprise me.
Terrific, another open borders establishment RINO gets endorsed to lose the next election. I thought this group was different from AARP. Who’s next on their buddy list; the anti-American, treasonous John McAmnesty? What a disappointment. How many presidential elections need to be lost by liberal RINOs before stupid Republican’ts realize that liberal RINOs lose presidential elections? That is why it is called “The Stupid Party”.
I know someone who works at AMAC and She told me they were so busy debating whether to put in Ron Paul or Rand Paul that they goofed and left both of them out. They realized their mistake and will be sure to put in Rand Paul in their next poll.They will also include Ted Cruz from Texas.
They had debated putting in Palin but decided against.
Palin is the only real conservative in the bunch. Too bad Karl Rove is running the show.
Ted Cruz is my Senator from Texas. He is conservative and has the U.S. Constitution memorized! We should require Supreme Court Justices, The President and every member of Congress to adhere to their oaths of office to “preserve and protect” or defend it from all enemies; if not memorize it as well. Much of what the Federal Government does today is unconstitutional. The Constitution is not vague. It’s 30-some pages, (depending on printing parameters) written in English. We don’t need any more tortured, lawless interpretations of this inspired document.
To my fellow AMAC members,
Please don’t be hasty in your choice of potential candidates for 2016. First wave of energy should be aimed at defining what principles and commitments a potential candidate he or she stands for. This individual is going to have to be a very very strong knowledgeable person.
Rubio is just another anchor baby, it is heart breaking to see what has happened to this country.
Dan you clearly don’t know Rubio’s story claiming him as a anchor baby. Both his parents came to this country fleeing Castro take over of Cuba with the USA opening its arms to make this refugees citizens. Rubio’s parents had started the process of citizenship and were waiting for the slow moving bureacracy to work when Marco was conceived. This is far different than people that come across the border while pregnant to have the baby in this country.
It is heart breaking to see bigoted people make no distinction while lumping all immigrants in one group.
I was being sarcastic, I know his story, try reading between the lines before you call people names, he still a RINO.
I like a lot of what Rubio says, but since neither of parents are “natural born”, we might as well get ready to hear a lot of “ineligible” talk. Even Obastage had 1 parent who was a natural born citizen.
It’s obvious from all the comments here that AMAC should retract tthis poll and do another one that includes Rand Paul. At this point, he’d be the most known choice for those who support a US that is constituional and conservative. AMAC should also realize that their push-polling of Rubio isn’t appreciated by a real lot of your membership
Rubio is, unfortunately, is not a “Natural Born Citizen.” I sent AMAC the following email weeks ago pointing out this fact –
“Your presidential poll do not include a strong contender, Rand Paul. Why?
Further, the current winner, Marco Rubio, while having good conservative positions, is not qualified to be President as he is not a “Natural Born Citizen.” Please let me know why you included him in the poll. Do you intend to let the membership know his lack of qualifications?”
No one has bothered to answer.
Marco Rubio’s parents were long-time legal residents of Florida and became citizens not long after Marco was born. That puts him light-years ahead of Obama’s very questionable status.
Natural born citizen is a bogus phrase that doesn’t apply to the requirements of President. That phrase is brought up despite the fact that early Presidents didn’t have two parents that were citizens either. The Constitution establishes the requirements and the purpose was only to make sure our President didn’t have loyalties to two countries.
If the only thing that can be said against Rubio in 2016 is his parents came here fleeing the take over of Cuba by Castro then he should be our next President. I need to see more of his votes and governing before deciding if he is the best candidate or not but it will be based on the issues not on a 1800 court case that didn’t apply to Presidential qualifications.
WOW!!!! YOU GUYS DONT KNOW WHO YOU WANT, DO YA?
AMAC IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT CONSERVATIVE VALUES YET THEY LEFT OFF THE BEST CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE OUT THERE OFF THIS INFORMAL POLL, RAND PAUL!!
PAUL IS THE ONLY ONE STANDING UP FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND IS EXPOSING THE OBAMA GUN RUNNING SCHEME IN BENGHAZI! TOTAL RED FLAG THAT AMAC LEFT HIM OFF. AMAC ANOTHER CARL ROVE FRONT GROUP?
So now the Republican dictators are telling us who are candidate will be again! And so were supposed to jump into lock step with them. NO not me and if you’re smart you won’t either. This Rubio has VERY LITTLE experience in any kind of leadership! WE DON’T KNOW HIM! Haven’t you learned your lesson?
You need to look at a governorship like Rick Perry’s or Sarah Palin, or a congressional leader like Michelle Bachmann. People who have actually led and have a record of accomplishments. If we listen to those RINOS bozos in Washington again, our country will have lost any chance of recovery!
Rubio:
1) Voted for the NDAA – detaining citizens indefinitely and with no charges (as did West – BAD mistake by both who claim to be “conservative constitutionalists”)
2) Wants to allow illegal aliens to stay here and get preferential treatment (essentially naturalized citizens) ahead of the legal (that’s law abiding folks) immigrants.
3) Parents were not citizens when he was born. He is not a natural citizen.
When will voters get educated and stop being distracted by rhetoric and charisma?
Rubio is just another RINO who like Lindsay (Nancy?) Graham and John (socialist) McCain.
AMAC better start doing its homework (it’s called investigative reporting for a reason) or here I come Generation America.
I don’t know how many more elections there will be or how many dictators. What I do know is that there is a fair, honest and true King coming and that is what keeps me sane and happy in these crazy times. Our King will meet the citizenship requirements, will not bash any opponents and will treat everyody fairly, no matter what party or race. Never forget that, no matter how many idiots there are in Washington, state and local governments, God is in control and the King is coming. Listen for the trumpet sound! If things continue like they’re going, you’ll hear it soon.
WHERE IS THE BEST CONSERVATIVE CHOICE IN THIS POLL, RON PAUL? BIG RED FLAG THAT AMAC LEFT HIM OFF. AMAC A CARL ROVE FRONT GROUP?
Let’s face it. The only way the Republican Party can ever win another Presidential election election is to outdo the Democrats in promising more freebies to the public and complete amnesty for illegal immigrants. It should be obvious from the last election that conservative principles and constutional law are of little value in the minds of most Americans today.
The only honest one in the whole bunch that actually cares about this country is Rick Perry, Governor Of Texas.
I heard all the hype about Perry with this last election. I had never seen him before. When I saw him and how he presented himself I saw a sleezy car salesman!! I was not impressed by him at all. I am waiting to see what comes of all this.
Unfortunately Marco Rubio is a near clone of Senator John McCain. Far too liberal leaning to be the mover and shaker for the GOP. The Republicans need to take a page from the Socialist Democrats presidential election playbook.Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama were literally political unknowns with no perceptible baggage as far as the American electorate was concerned. All three campaigned basically on non-political issues. Obama’s fIrst campaign was purely anti-Bush and his second was purely anti-Romney.Those three Democratic party winners spoke only in glittering generalities that revealed nothing of their purely Socialist politics. The Republicans cannot win using the strategies they have employed. And hoping to appeal to the Hispanic vote through Rubio will backfire. The Hispanics will vote Democrat as that is the party that most closely aligns with their political philosophies of a Socialist government that promises womb to the tomb care.The Republicans need desperately to re-energize their true base of power, the silent majority of Constitution loving conservative Americans. Giving amnesty to the illegal aliens will successfully cement a massive philosophical fissure within the Republican Party. As an Independent I would not vote for anyone who suggests or supports amnesty. It is not an issue of diversity with the majority of Americans. It is however a real issue with the rule of law. As amnesty would absolutely declare that the illegal aliens above the rule of law.
Marco Rubio is a pro-amnesty sellout. There will be no more free elections in the US ever again.
RUBIO IS NO MORE ELIGIBLE THAN OBAMA. WE ARE BEING FORCE FED FOR RUBIO TO CONTINUE THE
SELLOUT OF AMERICA. DO NOT BUY THIS IDEA, IT IS ALL WRONG.
Rubio cannot be President. He is not a natural born citizen. His parents were not United States citizens at the time of birth of Rubio. So no need to talk about him being a candidate for POTUS.
Also, Rubio wants amnesty for the illegal aliens. This would make him a RINO.
Why wasn’t Rand Paul on the list of potential President candidates? Rand Paul is a true Constitutionalist.