Marco Rubio to Announce Presidential Bid Soon, Possibly April 13

Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has confirmed his plans to make a major revelation on April 13, possibly his formal announcement of his candidacy in the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Asked why he had booked the Freedom Tower in Miami on that date for an undisclosed event, Rubio said he had not reserved a specific site yet, "but I will announce on April 13 what I'm going to do next in terms of running for president or the U.S. Senate."

Pressed on whether he would announce a White House bid, Rubio said: "I'll announce something on April 13."

His website, marcorubio.com, bannered: "A big announcement is coming! Will you be there?"

Among other Republicans, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas already announced his bid for his party's nomination last week. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky also plans to make his intentions known on April 7.

Rubio's fellow Floridian, former Republican Governor Jeb Bush, has formed an exploratory committee but has yet to make his presidential bid official.

Rubio, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, said the United States "literally changed the history of my family," a Politico story said.

"I tell people all the time: America doesn't owe me anything," said the senator. "I have a debt to America that I will never be able to repay. But if I have the opportunity to repay it somewhat, by serving in its highest office, that's something that I want to consider very seriously."

Rubio, one of the faces of a failed comprehensive immigration reform effort in 2013, faced a backlash from some conservatives at the time. He has since dropped talks of reviving the bill and pinned the blame on President Barack Obama for the "stalemate."

When asked about being seen as "soft on immigration," Rubio only repeated his talking points and did not mention anything about the Republican-controlled House declining to discuss the issue.

"I think I'm realistic on immigration," he told "The Five."

"Two things that are clear: One, we have a problem that needs to be fixed and addressed. What we have today is not sustainable. And number 2: We can't do it all at once – especially because of the two executive orders, the latest one in particular. The American people will not support doing anything further on immigration until first they believe illegal immigration in the future is under control. If that happens, I think people are willing to be very reasonable about what we do with those who are here now that have been here for a long time and have not otherwise violated our laws.

"But until you can show them — not tell them — until you can show them that you are going to bring future illegal immigration under control," Rubio continued, "I think it's impossible to move forward on anything else on immigration. That's just a fact, given what's happened over the last couple of years."

When asked about the difference between him and his mentor, former Governor Jeb Bush, Rubio skirted around the topic.

"I'm not a declared candidate for anything yet," Rubio said. "Let me just say, the time will come for comparison shopping for voters and others."

Rubio called Bush "the gold standard to Florida Republicans" in his first book, "An American Son."

"Jeb was bold in policy, a man of ideas and ideals," Rubio wrote. "He was mature in judgment and unafraid to hold fast to an unpopular decision if he thought it was right."

Rubio was a state legislator who supported the elder Republican's policies when the latter was governor.

Rubio hired Bush loyalists when he was seated as Florida House Speaker for two years after Bush left office in 2007. He never opposed media reports that described him as the sword bearer of Bush's legacy.