After staking much of his campaign in the state, Sen. Marco Rubio declared the GOP contest a three-person race after he pulled off a strong finish in South Carolina on Saturday,
Rubio, who finished behind Donald Trump for the top spot in the state, continues to battle for second with Ted Cruz, giving his campaign a needed bounce back after a poor finish in New Hampshire last week.
The Florida senator stood alongside South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Trey Gowdy as he touted a new generation of conservatives, while arguing that the race has only three viable candidates heading into Nevada and Super Tuesday.
“After tonight, this has become a three-person race, and we will win the nomination,” Rubio said from the outset of his speech, echoing the point later on. “This has been a long road. There were many people on this campaign when it first started — many good people. Many of whom in any other year would have been a front-runner.
“Now, practically speaking, it’s down to three, and I know that our campaign gives us the best chance not just to come together, not just to unify our party, but to unify our country and to grow this movement,” Rubio told supporters.
“Ronald Reagan made us believe that it was morning in America again, and it was. Well, now the children of the Reagan revolution are ready to assume the mantle of leadership,” Rubio said. “Now those of us who grew up when it was morning in America and Ronald Reagan was in the White House are ready to do for our generation, are ready to do for the next generation what Ronald Reagan did for ours.”
Rubio also bid former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush farewell after an 8 percent showing in South Carolina ended his campaign.
“I have an incredible affection and admiration, not just for Gov. Bush, but for his family and for their service to our country. Jeb Bush has many things to be proud of,” Rubio said. “He is an extraordinary husband. He is an extraordinary father. He was the greatest governor in the history of Florida, and I believe and I pray that his service to our country has not yet ended.”
Rubio secured Haley’s endorsement, giving him a needed boost with only three days until Saturday’s vote. With Scott and Gowdy already in his camp, Rubio had a strong contingent of Palmetto State politicos in his corner.
It certainly paid off Saturday night.
The Florida senator had been showing signs of a potential surge in the days leading up to the primary, much like he did in Iowa ahead of the state’s caucuses on Feb. 1. In the Hawkeye State, Rubio ended up scoring 23 percent support, only slightly behind Trump for second place.
Rubio is set to campaign in Nevada on both Sunday and Monday ahead of Tuesday’s caucus, where he will hold events with Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Nevada Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison and Rick Harrison, the star of the TV show “Pawn Stars.”
