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# Marco Rubio: The True Front-Runner of the GOP?
- URL: https://ivn.us/marco-rubio-true-front-runner-gop/
- Published: 2015-11-02T14:27:17.000Z
- Updated: 2022-10-19T06:02:30.000Z
- Author: Carl Wicklander
- Tags: News

Despite **[Donald Trump](http://ivn.us/tag/donald-trump)**'s consistent lead in most polls and **[Ben Carson](http://ivn.us/tag/ben-carson)**'s lead in Iowa polls, another Republican presidential candidate is increasingly being called a front-runner by the press.

Ross Douthat of the *New York Times* recently [wrote](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/opinion/sunday/rubio-the-unusual-front-runner.html?ref=opinion&%5Fr=0) that Florida U.S. Senator **[Marco Rubio](http://ivn.us/tag/marco-rubio)** may win the nomination through process of elimination because "no major party has ever nominated a figure like Trump or Carson."

NBC News [reported](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/marco-rubio-new-favorite-win-gop-nomination-n437516?ref=ivn.us) that Rubio's rise is attributed to "declining Republican optimism" about **[Jeb Bush](http://ivn.us/tag/jeb-bush)**, with whom Rubio shares several policy positions. Fox News media critic Howard Kurtz also [speculated](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/27/rubio-may-hate-senate-but-could-be-stealth-front-runner/?ref=ivn.us) whether Rubio might be the last candidate standing. Republican strategists such as Gary Marx [argue](http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/06/is-marco-rubio-the-new-favorite-to-win-the-gop-nomination.html?ref=ivn.us) that Rubio could emerge as a front-runner by uniting differing party factions.

The [idea](http://ivn.us/2015/07/23/experts-say-marco-rubio-may-gops-key-victory-2016/) of Rubio as a front-runner is not new, but how do those prospects shape up?

Although often [hailed](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2015/10/26/marco%5Frubio%5Fpacking%5Fit%5Fin%5Fafter%5Fone%5Fsenate%5Fterm?ref=ivn.us) as "the future of the Republican Party," Rubio is hobbled with low fundraising numbers, especially from small contributors - a sign of grassroots support. According to OpenSecrets.org, about 20% (roughly $3 million) of his [funds](https://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/candidate.php?id=N00030612&ref=ivn.us) come from small individual contributors. Sen. **[Rand Paul](http://ivn.us/tag/rand-paul)**, whose polling numbers are about half of Rubio's, has [raised](http://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/candidate.php?id=N00030836&ref=ivn.us) almost $4.5 million from small contributors.Rubio, who receives a wider share of funds from large individual contributions, is the expected beneficiary of casino owner and billionaire Sheldon Adelson's

[wealth](http://ivn.us/2015/04/27/marco-rubio-may-big-winner-sheldon-adelsons-unofficial-primary/). In addition to the senator's well-known [hawkish](http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/marco-rubio-invades-the-world/?ref=ivn.us) foreign policy, his support of a bill this summer to block states from loosening online gambling rules was [considered](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/06/25/in-n-h-marco-rubio-defends-sponsoring-sheldon-adelson-backed-gambling-bill/?ref=ivn.us) another appeal for Adelson's money. "e is accustomed to thinking about American foreign policy as a responsible policy maker. He is ready to be an informed and assertive decision-maker."

[Multiple](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/republicans/11967664/Jeb-Bushs-nightmare-week-continues-as-key-donor-plumps-for-Marco-Rubio.html?ref=ivn.us) [news outlets](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/us/politics/paul-singer-influential-billionaire-throws-support-to-marco-rubio-for-president.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&ref=ivn.us) also reported over the weekend that billionaire New York investor Paul Singer was investing in Rubio [because](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/republicans/11967664/Jeb-Bushs-nightmare-week-continues-as-key-donor-plumps-for-Marco-Rubio.html?ref=ivn.us)

Drudge also [reported](http://drudgetoday.com/v2/r?n=0&s=2&c=1&pn=Anonymous&u=http://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2015/10/31/marco-rubios-new-billionaire-backer-top-funder-open-borders/&ref=ivn.us) over the weekend that Singer lobbied in favor of the immigration reform effort Rubio spear-headed in 2013\. The [political](http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/politics/donald-trump-marco-rubio-foreign-policy-tweet/?ref=ivn.us) fallout from the GOP led Rubio to distance himself from the program that has often been [called](http://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2015/10/12/how-marco-rubio-might-win-back-us-conservatives-n2063628/page/full?ref=ivn.us) [amnesty](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/apr/17/marco-rubio/sen-marco-rubio-says-immigration-bill-not-amnesty/?ref=ivn.us) for illegal immigrants. Public knowledge of Singer's financial support could renew scrutiny of Rubio's past backing of immigration reform and raise questions about the [sincerity](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419744/has-marco-rubio-really-learned-his-lesson-immigration-jim-geraghty?ref=ivn.us) of the latter's policy shift.

Despite the praise in the press and his presumed securing of wealthy benefactors, Rubio has [further](http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/no-rubio-isnt-the-front-runner/?ref=ivn.us) [liabilities](http://ivn.us/2015/03/30/marco-rubio-faces-many-doubts-as-he-prepares-to-announce-2016-bid/). First, his current poll numbers are actually lower than they were when he announced his candidacy in April. In the spring, Rubio's numbers were around 15%, compared to approximately 10% now.

Second, although receiving generous donations from Adelson and others would boost Rubio's campaign, largesse is not necessarily an indicator that the senator is or will be the front-runner. Jeb Bush's consistent [lead](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/election-2016-campaign-money-race.html?ref=ivn.us) in overall fundraising numbers has not kept him out of the single digits in national polls. [Adelson](http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/12/03/sheldon-adelson-ended-up-spending-150-million?ref=ivn.us) poured $15 million into Newt Gingrich's campaign in 2012 who, aside from winning the South Carolina primary, never put up a serious challenge for the nomination.

The Iowa Caucuses are still three months away, so the Republican race could still take a new shape. Rubio could emerge as the front-runner or the nominee, but several obstacles remain in his way.

*Photo Credit: [Christopher Halloran](http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-143386p1.html?cr=00&pl=edit-00&ref=ivn.us) / [Shutterstock.com](http://www.shutterstock.com/editorial?cr=00&pl=edit-00&ref=ivn.us)*