COMMENTARY | The 2016 presidential race will feature Hillary Clinton versus Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Here's why:
Clinton has the name, public service record, and an ability to scare Republicans
As Clinton's years of public service increase, so does her popularity. As secretary of state who's visited 112 countries and traveled 956,000 miles, Clinton has achieved approval ratings above 65 percent, her highest ever, according to The Guardian Friday.
Clinton has already proven she has vast Democratic Party appeal, finishing only 305 delegates behind President Barack Obama in 2008.
Because of Clinton's high profile, she's already been thoroughly vetted. Clinton said during her first presidential run, "Of all the people running for president, I've been the most vetted, the most investigated and - my goodness - the most innocent," per Creators.com in 2008.
Furthermore, Clinton already has Republicans preparing for her even though the presidential election is years away. Politico reported Thursday that PAC ActRight has already been fundraising on the assumption that she'll be the 2016 Democratic nominee.
Rubio has the appeal to win over Republicans
One of the Republican Party's biggest challenges will be to win over more Latinos, who only gave Mitt Romney 27 percent support, per CNN's "Exit Polls" click-on link. What better way to show the country that it is trying to change than by nominating a youthful Cuban-American who rose from humble family beginnings and openly proclaims this?
The Huffington Post reported Saturday that Rubio told an early December dinner gathering, "My mother lived in a home with dirt floors in rural Cuba, raised by a disabled father who struggled to bring food home every night." Latinos will be more open to hearing Rubio's views, even if they're not as conservative as Rubio is.
The GOP must also show voters that it's not a party that cares more about the well-off than for the common person, In the 2012 election, those earning under $50,000 made up 41 percent of voters, of which Obama got 60 percent of those votes, per CNN exit polling above.
Rubio's life story gives him more credibility to speak to middle class aspirants. The Washington Post reported Dec. 5 that Rubio has already been speaking on this, telling an audience, "One of the fundamental promises of America is the opportunity to make it to the middle class," he said. "But today there is a growing opportunity gap developing."
