Rubio to hold first major Alabama campaign rally

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Florida Senator and Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio is coming to Alabama Tuesday, Dec. 1, for a campaign rally in Guntersville. The rally will be the first large event the senator has held in the Yellowhammer State since announcing his presidential bid in April. It will take place from 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Guntersville Rec Center and will be open to the public.

“Marco Rubio’s conservative vision and outsider’s viewpoint is in lockstep with the views of most Republican voters in Alabama,” said Rep. Will Ainsworth, who is co-chairing the Rubio campaign in Alabama. “Our state will play an important role in deciding the Republican nominee, and I encourage everyone to come hear Senator Rubio share his inspiring story.”

The most recent quarterly fundraising numbers in Alabama revealed that Rubio only raised $7,837 between July and September, the ninth most among GOP candidates. For comparison, Ben Carson raised $215k, followed by Jeb Bush ($164k), Ted Cruz ($105k) and Mike Huckabee ($20k).

But Rubio is riding high after a series of standout debate performances and is rising quickly in the polls, both nationally and in key early voting states. His campaign manager, Terry Sullivan, huddled with his Alabama leadership team last week, and it is becoming clear Rubio will bring in a significant fundraising haul ahead of the next filing deadline.

While Sen. Rubio is in the state for the rally Dec. 1, the campaign is also planning to hold two large, private fundraisers, one at Dream Ranch in Guntersville and a second at the home of state Sen. Slade Blackwell (R-Mountain Brook).

As Yellowhammer reported last month, the Rubio campaign is making a serious play to win Alabama, and could be on a collision course with Cruz, who has also made the Yellowhammer State a priority.

Alabama and other southern states are enjoying increased prominence in the presidential nominating process thanks to the so called SEC Primary. Alabama will join Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia to hold its presidential primary election on March 1, creating something of a Southern Super Tuesday that candidates who are in the race for the long haul are angling to win.