Marco Rubio's hat is officially in the ring — and the race — for President of the United States. The Republican senator, 43, announced on Monday, April 13, that he plans to make a run at the White House in 2016, the Associated Press reports.
According to the AP, Rubio told top donors in a conference call that he feels "uniquely qualified" to represent the Republican Party in the upcoming election. He is set to make a flashier announcement at a political rally in Miami on Monday evening.
The Florida-based politician's news comes just one day after 2008 Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton revealed her own plans to run for office in 2016. Rubio reportedly made note of the former First Lady and Secretary of State in his call, referring to her as "a leader from yesterday."
Clinton, 67, launched her campaign on Sunday, April 12, in an email to supporters and, later, in a video on her "Hillary for America" website. The clip showcased Americans of all ages getting ready to tackle new challenges — new schools, new jobs, new babies, and so on.
"I'm getting ready to do something, too," Clinton says in the video. "I'm running for president."
Prior to Clinton's announcement, Republican Rand Paul declared his intentions to run, telling Fox News' Sean Hannity that he wants to be president "to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government."
Paul was the second Republican candidate to join the fray; Rubio will face off against both him and Senator Ted Cruz in the primaries.
