Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., endorsed Mitt Romney for president Wednesday night on Fox News' "Hannity," saying Romney offers "a very clear alternative" to President Obama's vision for the future of the country.

Rubio, a young, first-termer who has been discussed as a possible vice presidential candidate, criticized talk of a fight for the Republican nomination on the convention floor, a possibility that is keeping alive the campaigns of Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

"I think that's a recipe for delivering four more years of Barack Obama," Rubio told Fox News' Sean Hannity.

Romney has "earned this nomination," Rubio said, though he again shot down questions about whether he would accept any offers of a spot on the ticket...

Sen. Marco Rubio on Thursday took the Obama administration to task for its new mandate that religious organizations pay for their workers’ birth control, calling President Obama a “terrible president.”

Speaking to a receptive crowd at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, the freshman Florida Republican characterized the mandate as un-American and unconstitutional.

“You may not agree with that [religious] institution, but that’s not the point. The point is, the First Amendment still applies,” said Mr. Rubio to long, robust applause.

“This isn’t even a social issue — this is a constitutional issue. … I know what the U.S. Constitution says about it, and what it says is the federal government does not have the power to force religious organizations to pay for things that that organization thinks is wrong.”

Mr. Rubio said the president has divided the country and has “pit Americans against each other”...

Republicans are stepping up their criticism of Vice President Biden for his claim that rapes and murders will climb if Congress does not approve proposed aid for police and first responders.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said the vice president is using "fear tactics." Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Biden's remarks were "over the top."

And as the Senate Thursday night turned down a pared-back jobs bill to send $35 billion to the states for teachers and first responders, the Republican National Committee threw up a web video accusing Biden of using "scare tactics" to try to push it through. The video excerpted several remarks, including Biden's claim to a reporter this week that "murder will continue to rise, rape will continue to rise" without more aid.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is a rising star in the Republican party and is often mentioned as a potential Vice Presidential nominee, however Rubio is doing his best to send the message to the 2012 GOP presidential field that he is not interested.

On Wednesday in the nation's capitol, while speaking at the Washington Ideas Forum, Rubio was asked if he would turn down a chance at running as a Vice Presidential nominee in 2012. "I believe so," said Rubio. "I'm not going to be the Vice Presidential nominee...I'm focused on my job right now... The answer is going to be no."

Rubio emphasized the importance of his job in the US Senate. "Throughout the history of American policy and American policymaking, the US Senate has provided the genesis for some of the greatest things that this country has ever done"...

While the field for the Republican presidential nomination is crowded and up for grabs, many pundits and politicos are ready to proclaim a front-runner for the ticket’s second spot — Florida’s Sen. Marco Rubio.

“There are very few candidates that have such a broad Republican appeal and a chance to reach voters that Republicans are having a hard time” winning over, said Florida Atlantic University political science professor Kevin Wagner.

Mr. Rubio, 40, has served in the Senate for less than eight months and the 2012 Republican National Convention is a year away. But for now the dapper, articulate and ambitious Miami native — who is admired by tea party activists and the party’s establishment alike — is the sexy choice for the GOP’s vice presidential candidate...

A new U.S. Senate bill would help states across the country better enforce their parental involvement laws on abortion that require teen girls to get their parents permission or notify them about a decision to have an abortion.

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida introduced the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act with Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah that would help states enforce laws requiring that parents be notified before their child has an abortion. The legislation is needed as sexual abusers, family members and even staff at abortion centers routinely take teenage girls across state lines for secret abortions without their parents knowledge or permission.

“The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act would help prevent the evasion of parental consent and notification laws in 36 states,” Senator Rubio said. “State parental involvement laws have been undermined and circumvented by those who simply travel to other states.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Marco Rubio is preparing to give his first speech from the floor of the U.S. Senate.

The Florida Republican's office says Tuesday's speech will lay out the lawmaker's vision for America, its challenges and its opportunities. Rubio, who took office in January, will discuss how the United States can maintain its position in the world through the 21st century...

MIAMI, Fla -Florida's newest U.S. Senator has barely been in office for 5 days but in nearly every interview since being sworn in on January 5th, Republican Marco Rubio has been asked about his aspirations for 2012.

Rubio has repeatedly sought to shut down any speculation that he may run for president, but speaking Monday to a local radio station in Fort Myers, Fla., Rubio also rejected any talk of becoming a vice presidential pick on a potential GOP ticket.

"No, and I don't spend anytime thinking about it," Rubio said bluntly to FOX 92.5 radio host Trey Radel...

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday bestowed the honor of giving the first radio address after the elections to incoming Tea Party-backed freshman Marco Rubio of Florida. "Senator-elect Rubio embodies an exciting and optimistic message about the future of America," McConnell said in an e-mailed statement, touting the rock star Florida Senator-elect's "principled conservatism."

Many have questioned whether or not the leader could manage the strong-minded, independent conservatives coming to Washington, and this is likely to be seen as an olive branch by the Kentucky senator particularly to those who were not, like Rubio, the first choice of the establishment. McConnell and his GOP colleagues in leadership first threw their support behind then-GOP Gov. Charlie Crist. When Crist lost the primary, the entire GOP party got behind Rubio...

Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Florida voters backed pro-life candidates for Senate and governor on Tuesday night and set up battles pitting pro-life and pro-abortion candidates against each other. In the gubernatorial race, pro-life Republican candidate Rick Scott defeated Attorney General Bill McCollum.

And in the Senate race, pro-life former House Speaker Marco Rubio is now preparing to take on pro-abortion Gov. Charlie Crist and pro-abortion Rep. Kendrick Meek.

Scott took 47 percent of the vote to 43 for McCollum in the Republican gubernatorial primary...