Clinton To Announce Plans Sunday, Rubio A Day Later
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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami/AP) — Political pundits will be going into overdrive this weekend as two potential presidential candidates ready to announce their plans, one of which may cause a fall out between two friends.
Hillary Rodham Clinton will end months of speculation and launch her long-awaited 2016 presidential campaign on Sunday, according to people familiar with her plans.
CLICK HERE To Watch Gary Nelson's Report On Hillary Clinton
The first official word that Clinton will seek the Democratic Party's nomination will come via an online video posted on social media.
"Well hopefully she doesn't announce in her email, because we'll never find the announcement, it'll be lost somewhere," said Dr. Joseph Usckinski with the University of Miami Political Science Department.
Usckinski was referring to the email scandal that has swirled around Clinton - revelations that as secretary of state she conducted sensitive government business on her personal email that may have been compromised or erased.
"The fact that they're doing it this Sunday could signal that they want to move past the email debacle that they had over the last month, that they want to put some of these scandals behind them," said Usckinski.
Clinton is expected to make stops in key early voting states, including Iowa and New Hampshire, where she'll hold small events with voters.
One Democrat familiar with campaign rollout said Clinton's stops would include visits to people's homes in those early states.
The people familiar with Clinton's plans spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly.
The former secretary of state will enter the race in a strong position to succeed her rival from the 2008 Democratic primary, President Barack Obama. Clinton appears unlikely to face a stiff primary opponent, though a handful of lower-profile Democrats have said they are considering their own campaigns.
"This is her time. To the Clintons, this is destiny. This is what they've wanted for eight years," said Usckinski.
Among the Democrats who could challenge Clinton in the primary are former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and Vice President Joe Biden.
Should she win the nomination, Clinton would face the winner of a Republican primary season that could feature as many as two dozen candidates.
One of those candidates may or may not be Sen. Marco Rubio who will announce his future plans on Monday at Miami's Freedom Tower.
Late Friday, Rubio's press team released a slick 5-minute video on YouTube that will do nothing but intensify rumors of Rubio's entry into the Republican Presidential primary on Monday.
CLICK HERE To Watch Carey Codd's Report
The video, which featured sweeping campaign rhetoric like "A New American Century," the video appeared to introduce Rubio to voters as well as lay out his core beliefs in a greatest hits-style mashup of political soundbites.
Speculation has run the gamut as to what he'll do. While some say he'll throw his hat in the presidential ring, others say he'll decide to seek a second term in the Senate and possibly throw his support to fellow Republican Jeb Bush, his mentor, if he decides to run for the Oval Office.
If Rubio does run for president, it will no doubt bring an end to a beautiful relationship with his one time dear friend Jeb Bush.
CLICK HERE To Watch Gary Nelson's Report On Rubio & Bush
Ironically, Rubio's decision to shake things up, his apparent impending bid for the presidency comes, insiders say, like a dagger to Jeb Bush, an all but announced candidate.
"Well, it represents the final nail in the coffin between his relationship with Jeb Bush," said Political Consultant Fernand Amandi.
Bush has formed an exploratory committee into a presidential run but has not given a timeline as to when he'd make a decision.
Many state GOP leaders, supporters and donors are concerned if both Bush and Rubio decide to run against each other.
"If you see them really go after each other in those first debates, that might signal something," said Uscinski. "The one advantage that Bush has over everybody is long standing - long standing connections, and long standing relationships with donors."
But Rubio is drawing some wealthy attention. Billionaire Norman Braman reportedly is ready to give millions to a Rubio campaign.
"I think it's time to move beyond the Bushs and the Clintons and get a young person to deal with the problems that we have now. I don't believe in dynasties," said Braman.
Rubio and Bush have had a close relationship for the last 15 years. In 2010, Rubio waited for Bush to make a decision on a run for the U.S. Senate. Rubio would later write in his book that if Bush decided to run, he would not challenge him in the primary.
Bush bowed out and it was Rubio who went on to challenge former Gov. Charlie Crist for the Senate seat. Bush worked behind the scenes to help Rubio's campaign. In the summer of 2009, feeling overshadowed and outgunned, Rubio reportedly considered dropping out of the race. It was Bush who gave him the encouragement to stay and eventually win.
Supporters of Rubio still express some dismay that Bush waited until it looked like Rubio could win before endorsing him.
Republicans have been preparing for a second Clinton campaign since she left Obama's administration in early 2013. They intend to campaign against her by equating her potential presidency to that of a "third" Obama term, during which they argue she would continue his most unpopular policies.
By campaigning heavily in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton hopes to avoid making the same stumbles against Obama as she did in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, which he won in an upset.
Clinton's race is expected to cost more than the $1 billion Obama raised for his 2012 re-election and aides have said she is expected to focus heavily on online fundraising. Her campaign will be required to release its first fundraising report in July and it will be closely examined to measure the strength of her support.
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