is. >> hello everybody this is al jazeera america. i'm david schuster in new york city. florida republican senator marco rubio will formally announce that he is running for president. step to the podium and announce in front of hundreds of supporters the freedom tower where the government used to process immigrants. rubio is 43 years old. he will be the youngest presidential candidate in 2016. he has only been serving in the u.s. senate since 2010. but he believes he will be able

to offer the country a new american century. let's chat with o'brien murray. what should we be looking for in rubio? >> a message put americans back to work, help the economy and also go against what a lot of barack obama has already done and what hillary is trying to do. >> we are told it's a ten or 12 minute speech, basically timed to make the 6:00 news on all the stations covering it. is it a feeling a tone or the actual specifics you would be advising? >> depends how much air time. there is no snippets on nightly news. if he actually has people watching this, it is a brilliant move to do it this time of night. >> rubio says he is not intimidated by jeb bush, a

greater fundraising machine he is trying to run a lean machine is that successful given the field we are looking at? >> if you look at his history he's not afraid of going against anybody. he had tea party operatives all behind him at the beginning at that point. the question is, will he get those behind him. he has a chance to tap into it, he really does. >> rubio has had a pac that has raised tens of millions of dollars, speaking in iowa and new hampshire. explain why that's so important to him as opposed to hillary clinton over the last 24 hours has taken a very low profile in terms of her presidential bid. >> why is he there thip? nobody knows who heat this pointinat thispoint?

nobody knows who he is. there will be a pop in those polls and by talking to all these media outlets he has a chance of getting his message across. as you said, he's the son of cuban immigrants. here we are being called the party of old white men and here you have young hispanic men running at this point. >> he had to pull away because the republicans were so angry would you mention that? >> of course, i think e-will tackle that, no question about it. it passed in the senate not in the house. it didn't get to the finish line. >> let's listen to marco rubio. >> thank you, thank you. ask that is a lot of cell phones, thank you for being here here. of aafter a lot of prayer, i have

come here tonight chose to make this announcement at the freedom tower because it is truly a symbol of our nation's identity as the land of opportunity. i'm more confident than ever that despite our troubles we have it within our power to make our time another american century. in this very room, five decades ago, tens of thousands of cuban exiles began their lives in america. their story is part of the larger story of the american miracle. how united by a common faith and their god given right to go as far as their talent and work would take them, a collection of immigrants and ex isles exiles, slaves and refugees, built the strongest nation ever. power and wealth belongs only to a select few.

most people who have ever lived were trapped by the circumstances of their birth. destined to live the life their parents had. but america's different. because here we are the children and the grandchildren of people who refused to accept this. [cheering and applause] >> both of my parents were born to poor families in cuba. after his mother died my father had to go work when he was nine years old. my mother was one of seven girls raised by a disabled father who struggled to provide for his family. when they were young my parents had big dreams for themselves. but because they were born into -- because they were not born into wealth or power their future was destined to be defined by their past.

and so in 1956, they came here to america. to the one place on earth where the aspirations of people like them could be more than just dreams. here in america my father became a bartender. my mother a cashier. a maid. a kmart stock clerk. they never made it big. but they were successful. two immigrants with little money or education found stable jobs. owned a home. retired with security. and gave all four of their children a life better than their own. my parents achieved what had came to be known as the american dream. the problem is now too many americans are starting to doubt whether achieving that dream is still possible. hardworking families that are living paycheck to paycheck, one unexpected expense away from disaster. young americans unable to start a career or a business or a

family because they owe thousands of dollars in student loans for degrees that did not even lead to jobs. and small business owners who are left to struggle under the weight of more taxes more regulation. and more government. why is this happening? in a country that for over two centuries has been defined by a quality of opportunity. it's because while our people and our economy are pushing the boundaries of the 21st century, too many of our leaders and their ideas are stuck in the 20th century. [cheering and applause] >> they're busy looking backwards. so they do not see how jobs and prosperity today depend on our ability to compete in a global economy. and so our leaders put us at a

disadvantage by taxing and borrowing and regulating like it was 1999. [ laughter ] [applause] >> they look for solutions in yesterday. so they do not see the good-paying modern jobs require different skills and more education than the past. so they blindly support an outdated higher education system that is too expensive and too inaccessible to those who need it most and they have forgotten. they have forgotten that when america fails to lead, global chaos inevitably follows. [cheering and applause] >> and so they appease our enemies. they betray our allies, and they weaken our military. now look at the turn of the

19th century a generation of americans harnessed the power of the industrial age and they transformed this country into the leading economy of the world and the 20th century became the american century. well now the time has come for our generation to lead the way towards a new american century. [cheering and applause] >> if we reform our tax code. and reduce regulations and control spending and modernize and replace our tax laws and repeal and replace obamacare if we do these things -- if we do these things, the american people will create millions of better-paying modern jobs. if we create a 21st century system of higher education that

provides working americans the chance to acquire the skills they need, that no longer graduates students with mountains of debt and degrees that do not lead to jobs and that graduates more students from high school ready to work, then our people will be prepared to seize their opportunities in this new economy. [cheering and applause] >> if we remember, if we remember that the family, not the government, is the most important institution in our society. [ cheering ] >> if we remember that all human life deserves protection of our laws.. [ cheering ] >> and if we remember that all parents deserve to choose the education that's right for their children, then we will have a

strong people, and a strong nation. [ cheering ] >> and if america once again accepts the mantle of global leadership. by abandoning this administration's dangerous concessions to iran and its hostility to israel. [cheering and applause] >> by reversing the hollowing out of our military, by giving our men and women in uniform the resources care and gratitude that they deserve. [cheering and applause] >> by no longer being passive in the face of chinese and russian aggression. and by ending the near total disregard for the erosion of

democracy and human rights around the world especially cuba venezuela and nicaragua. [cheering and applause] >> then if we did these things, then our nation would be safer our world more stable and our people more prosperous. [cheering and applause] >> these are the things that we must do. but this election is not just about what laws we're going to pass. this election is a generational choice about what kind of country we will be. now just yesterday a leader from yesterday -- [ boos ] >> -- began a campaign for president by promising to take us back to yesterday.

yesterday is over. [ cheering ] >> and we're never going back. you see we americans are proud of our history. but our country has always been about the future. and before us now is the opportunity to author the greatest chapter yet in the amazing story of america. but we can't do that by going back to the leaders and ideas of the past. we must change the decisions we are making by changing the people who are making them. [cheering and applause] >> and so that is why tonight grounded by the lessons of our history, but inspired by the promise of our future, i announce my candidacy for president of the united states!

[cheering and applause] thank you. i know my candidacy might seem improbable to some watching from abroad. after all in many countries the highest office in the land is reserved for the rich and the powerful. but i live in an exceptional country. i live in an exceptional country where even the son of a bartender and a maid can have the same dreams. [cheering and applause] >> i live in an exceptional country where the son of a bartender and a maid can have the same dreams and the same

future as those who come from power and privilege! [cheering and applause] >> i recognize -- i recognize the challenges of this campaign. and i recognize the demands of this office that i seek. but in this endeavor as in all things i find comfort in the ancient command. i strong and courageous. do not tremble or be dismayed because the lord our god is with you, whenever you go. [cheering and applause] >> i've heard i've heard some suggest that i should step aside and wait my turn. >> it's your turn! >> but i cannot. because i believe our very identity as an exceptional

nation is at stake and i can make a difference as president. [cheering and applause] >> i'm humbled by the realization that america -- america doesn't owe me anything. but i have a debt to america i must try to repay. this isn't just the country where i was born. america's literally the place that changed my family's history. i regret that my father did not live to see this day in person. he used to tell me all the time, used to tell us tall time. [ spanish ] in this country that means in this country you will achieve all the things we never could. [applause]

on the days when i'm tired or discouraged, i remember the sounds of his keys jingling at the front door of our home well past midnight as he returned from another long day at work. when i was younger i didn't fully appreciate all he did for us. but now as my own children grow older, i more fully understand. you see my father was grateful for the work he had but that was not the life he wanted for his children. he wanted all the dreams he once had for himself to come true for us. he wanted all the doors that closed for him to open for me. and so my father stood behind a small portable bar in the back of a room for all those years. so that tonight i could stand behind this podium in front of this room, and this nation. [cheering and applause]

>> that journey -- that journey from behind that bar to behind this podium, that's the essence of the american dream. and whether we remain a special country will depend on whether that journey is still possible for those who are trying to make it right now. the single mother who works long hours for little pay so her children don't have to struggle the way she has to. the young student who takes two buses before dawn to attend a better school halfway across town. the workers in our hotel kitchens the landscaping crews in our neighborhoods. the late night janitorial staff that clean our offices. and even the bartenders who tonight are standing in the back of a room somewhere in america. if their american dreams become impossible we will have just become another country. but if they succeed this 21st

century will also be an american century. [cheering and applause] >> this will be the message of my campaign and the purpose of my presidency, and to succeed on this journey i will need your prayers and your support and ultimately your vote. and so tonight i'm asking you to take that first step with me by joining us at our website marcorubio.com. my wife jeanette and my four children are here tonight. [applause] >> the next 19 months will take me far away from home.

i'll miss watching amanda run track and danielle play track and daniel play soccer. i've lost course because this election is about them. theirs is the most important generation. and i'll tell you why. [applause] >> because if we can capture the promise of this new century they will be the freest and the most prosperous americans that have ever lived. but if we fail, they will be the first generation of americans to inherit a country worse off than the one left for their parents. the final verdict on our generation will be written by americans who have knot yet been born. let us make sure they record that we made the right choice. that in the early years of this century, faced with the rapidly changing and uncertain world

our generation rose to face the great challenges of our time. and because we did because we did, there was still one place in the world where who you come from does not determine how far you go. because we did. because we did the american miracle lived on. because we did our children and theirs, lived in a new american century. thank you god bless you. god bless the united states! thank you! >> marco rubio 43 years old first term senator from florida and now official a candidate for the republican presidential nomination. he spoke in his speech about a new american century the time has come for our generation his generation to lead in the american century. decisions change the opinion making them. you see his wife, his children

are coming up. talked about yesterday referring to yesterday being over but other than that a speech mostly focused about himself his own biography. what did you think about his speech? >> it's not pundits not reporters, he gets to say it himself, his speech is out there for everyone to say. >> a lot heavy on his own biography. >> i think this differentiates him from the other candidates, and especially since his story and his campaign is against hillary clinton he wants to talk about growing up in america as the child of immigrants. growing up in america and taking

shots at the president today on israel on cuba on south america and central america. >> there he is with his family, his lovely family, holding up his son his two youngest boys and older girls. >> he talks about the fire in his belly giving up his time with his children, he says i'm willing to sacrifice and step away from my family in the next year to campaign for the highest job in the land. >> they're going to want to know what is your position on immigration reform, what is your position on foreign policy. it's a tough road for him in some sense because there he was in part of immigration reform and he had to back away from

amnesty. how do you think about that? >> i think he has the opportunity to do that and also, remember everyone knows who hillary clinton is, she's the democratic front runner no question. out here he's against ted cruz, against rand paul. the question is at what point do the republicans spend money to define him and they talk about jeb bush as being the front runner with all the money. but if he can get out the message who he is and what he's about, he has the opportunity first. >> they know he starts this campaign first in the lower tier. the top tier may be jeb bush or scott walker, relatively new to the facial stage and that providing the opportunity for jeb bush -- for marco rubio to move up and challenge jeb bush,

where in 2008 you had hillary clinton, the establishment democrat suddenly there was the challenge from barack obama and barack obama won. can that kind of atmosphere work in the democratic party? >> sure it can. it's also not just the win it's the spin i should say. you can come in second or third and win. look what happened between romney and santorum. he was still there at the end of the day because of what he did there. at the same time when romney said i won it took away momentum from sanl san santorum. >> it's sometimes difficult to convince the candidates to see this as a 19-month process as opposed to they got to get out there, move up today. >> you know when your staff get

tired of your speech. ohio, new hampshire new hampshire, south carolina, talking to donors nonstop marco rubio knows that. he got into this race when he was in single digits against an incumbent governor and he beat him. we'll see how it goes. >> we also had a leading republican jeb bush showing up at same events now they are campaigning for the same thing. how does that hold up? >> they still have a lot in common still friends on the campaign trail, there is a certain amount of friendliness in it. mentors are a terrific thing to have in any point in life. it's important to see who you are going to listen to for advice.

they'll work together and elect the next republican. >> back in 2008 there was john edwards who leaned over to barack obama and said, come on man you got to get in the game. that's what apparently inspired barack obama to bring his game the rest of the way. is that the sort of relationship that jeb bush and coe rubio have? good it certainly is most likely. the question is at what point do they all get together and unify hind one person to take on the democrats? we don't know what those were, the staff knows and those will continue. >> o'brien murphy, political strategist. coe rubio is the newest entrant in the republican presidential race. the third to officially declare. coe rubio first time senator who says, this is time for a new

generation. more news at the top of the hour. hour.

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