Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is set to
announce his bid for the White House on Monday and while he has a number of advantages in his corner he is also facing a number of obstacles,
NPR reported.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush may be one of Rubio's largest hurdles, given that he has an overwhelming financial advantage and would be competing for the same Florida supporters as the senator.
Rubio also lacks a long track record of experience, having been elected to the Senate in 2010. While he has some appeal as a fresh face there is also skepticism about first-term senators running for president in the aftermath of President Barack Obama's rise to power.
"Rubio will have to answer the criticism from the governors — with long records — in the race that he lacks a record of accomplishment," NPR said.
Rubio is also said to have made a miscalculation when he pursued comprehensive immigration reform. As one of the Gang of Eight, he helped construct the legislation only to see it rejected by the tea party's grass roots.
While Rubio has since distanced himself from it, insisting on secure borders instead, it may have compromised his credentials with the party base.
But Rubio has built his career on defying the odds, starting with a campaign for West Miami city commissioner at 26,
The New York Times reported.
Just two years later he defeated a well-known state legislator to win a seat in the Florida House of Representatives before capturing his Senate seat at age 39 when many believed it wasn't possible to win.
"Mr. Rubio, now 43, has built a remarkable career around big, even foolhardy, political bets that inflamed party elders, defied polls and, at times, went against his own gut instinct," the Times said.
The Times said that his bid for the presidency will be his boldest gamble yet.
"There's a willingness to abandon or ignore expectations," Frank Luntz, a longtime Republican pollster, told the Times.