Despite Florida Secretary of State Marco Rubio's repeated statements that he has "no plans" to run for president in 2028, his name continues to be a point of discussion among attendees at the recent Republican convention in Dallas. While Vice President JD Vance is positioning himself as a leading contender for the Republican nomination, some convention-goers indicated a preference for Rubio.
Several attendees voiced their support for Rubio, even as they acknowledged Vance's current role and campaign focus. Missy Walker, a convention attendee, stated she would lean towards Rubio, describing him as "so good" and noting he "doesn't get rattled." Michael Caffey of Rockwall, Texas, was more direct, saying he liked both Vance and Rubio but was "really impressed" by a recent United Nations speech delivered by Rubio. Fred Farrin of Missouri also chose Rubio "if I had to choose."
Lisa Stone suggested a ticket with Rubio at the top and Vance as his running mate, an option echoed by Jeannie Elliott who expressed hope that the "other one is hopefully going to be vice president." These sentiments emerge even as a recent Financial Times/Focaldata poll indicated Vance with 43 percent support among Republicans for the 2028 nomination, compared to Rubio's 21 percent.
Rubio has privately communicated that he has no intention of running, according to NBC News, though the same sources noted he is "keeping his options open for the future." Rubio himself addressed the speculation, telling Colombian broadcaster RCN on Tuesday, "I don't know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time. I'm not a candidate for anything right now. And I'm 100 percent focused on my job, and I have to be because I have two jobs."
Not all attendees are keen on Rubio's potential candidacy. Former Georgia Representative Vernon Jones stated that Rubio's absence from the convention was appropriate, given his role as Secretary of State. "JD Vance is running to make sure that we win the midterm elections. I like that," Jones said.
The convention, held at the American Airlines Center, featured other prominent speakers including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. Former President Donald Trump also made an appearance, briefly acknowledging Vance's work in identifying billions of dollars in fraud.