Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R-FL) got the party started this morning at the Conservative Political Action Conference with an uplifting speech that offered the promise of both hope and change.
Rubio warned repeatedly he thinks the Obama administration is attempting to “redefine” the role of government from spending to fighting terrorism.
He didn’t talk about Republicans but said there is energy in the conservative movement.
“From tea parties to the election in Massachusetts we are witnessing the single greatest pushback in American history,” Rubio said, to cheers.
He said this fall’s elections are “a referendum on the very identity of our nation.” The crowd responded with “whoa!”
As we reported earlier, Rubio is challenging Gov. Charlie Crist in the GOP primary. He didn’t mention his Republican rival – who is not attending CPAC – but quipped, “a long list of early establishment endorsements will not spare you a primary.”
Rubio said he wants to abolish taxes on capital gains, interests and “death.”
He also said conservatives want their children to inherit their “hopes and dreams.”
Follow our live updates from CPAC on our wire here.
