Marco Rubio unveils campaign chairs in all Florida counties
ORLANDO -- Marco Rubio unveiled a list Thursday of supporters for his presidential candidacy in every Florida county.
Rubio has lagged behind Jeb Bush in home-state endorsements. But the sitting U.S. senator is the one climbing in presidential polls, sticking to his strategy of rolling out his campaign slowly and methodically in an effort to save money and not peak too soon.
His campaign published the names a few hours before Rubio was scheduled to speak at the Republican Party of Florida's annual Statesman's Dinner in Orlando, and before a two-day party event featuring Rubio and 12 of his rivals for the 2016 nomination. Rubio will open the Sunshine Summit on Friday.
Rubio named a campaign chairman in all 67 Florida counties, and named other supporters from the state legislature and municipalities. In June, Rubio announced his Florida effort would be headed by U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney and former House Majority Leader Rep. Adam Hasner.
"These county chairs are proof that Floridians are tired of electing the same politicians with the same 20th Century ideas and are eager to embrace Marco's vision for a vibrant 21st Century," Rooney said in a statement.
In his own statement, Hasner noted many of them are "new to the political arena."
Notable South Florida backers include Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, Miami-Dade County Commissioners Esteban Bovo and Rebeca Sosa. Sosa was Rubio's political godmother in West Miami, where he began his career in elected office; two current city leaders -- West Miami Mayor Eduardo Muhina and Vice Mayor Juan Blanes -- have endorsed Rubio.
The Miami-Dade list also includes Miami Young Republicans President Jessica Fernandez.
Here is a partial list:
MARCO'S FLORIDA CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP ...
State Co-Chair: Congressman Tom Rooney
State Co-Chair: Adam Hasner
Regional Chair: North Florida: Scott Ross
Regional Chair: Central Florida: Ben Newman
Regional Chair: Central Florida: Kim Carroll
Regional Chair: Central Florida: Luis Hernandez
Regional Chair: Tampa Bay: Debbie Cox-Roush
MARCO'S COUNTY LEADERS ...
Manatee: Matt Saldano
Sarasota: Cindy Mercurio
Sarasota: Frank Patti
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 7:59 AM with the headline "Marco Rubio unveils campaign chairs in all Florida counties ."