Marco Rubio

The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio won a Senate seat during the tea party wave of 2010, and has since broadened his appeal beyond the limited government, libertarian-leaning movement. At 44, he attracts younger voters — long a tricky reach for Republicans — and he would make history as the first Hispanic president. He’s a strong fundraiser and in-demand campaigner.

Rubio was expected to brawl with his one-time mentor: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. But he and Bush have been overshadowed by billionaire businessman Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. He’s betting big that Republican voters across the political spectrum ultimately will coalesce behind his candidacy in the state-by-state slog for delegates.

The Florida senator has in recent weeks painted a portrait of himself as a passionate evangelical conservative, a national security hawk, an empathizer of immigrants in the country illegally, and someone who can bring new voters to the Republican Party. He has been hammered in television ads by opponents and super PACS that have cast him as a flip-flopper questioned his Senate attendance record.

– The Associated Press