OKLAHOMA CITY — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio touted his vision for a "new American century" Friday, continuing his campaign to position himself as a young, fresh face for the Republican Party.
Rubio has been criticized by candidates such as businessman Donald Trump, who say Rubio’s comparatively young age makes him a political “lightweight” and too inexperienced to run the country.
Jack Tobin, a finance junior from Oklahoma State University, does not agree.
“To be honest, I think that his age, along with his charisma, shows that he is a very viable candidate," Tobin said. "It says ‘I’m young, I’m energetic and I’m ready to lead this country.'"
Troy Bell, an Oklahoma City Community College meteorology freshman, hasn’t settled on Rubio as his candidate either, but said if anything, Rubio’s young age “improves his qualifications” as a presidential candidate.
”It allows him to grow and expand and connect with a larger demographic,” Bell said.
During his rally speech, Rubio made a number of jabs at his two closest opponents and used humor to do it, which seemed to work well with the large number of college students he had gathered.
“Donald Trump is not a tough guy,” Rubio said, “Donald Trump never punched anyone in the face.”
Rubio was referring to an incident where he said Trump had expressed the urge to punch someone in the face, and had used the incident to build on what Rubio called a false tough guy persona.
High school seniors Reed Thompson and Jackson Penard said the front of the Chevy Bricktown Events Center was packed with mostly young people.
“This really sold me on Rubio,” Thompson said. “His youth has to do with it, and the message he speaks.”
Rubio made other humorous remarks during his rally, once joking that he may need the FBI’s help unlocking his phone before he read off a series of tweets from Trump, most of which had spelling or grammatical errors.
Oral Roberts University senior Lee Scott said Rubio brings a certain unity and charisma to the Republican Party.
“He has an incredible likability factor,” Scott said.
One aspect that seemed to be a centerpiece of Rubio’s speech was his insistence that Trump was not only incapable of running a nation, but that he was a crook and a jerk.
“Friends do not let friends vote for a con artist,” Rubio said at one point in his speech.
Kyle O'Brien, a finance freshman at OU, said Rubio seemed like the “happy medium” of the remaining candidates, and that he was interested in using the rally as a chance to “feel him out” as a candidate.
OCCC freshman Brian Chelko is still on the fence too.
“I’m stuck between Cruz and Rubio,” he said.
Chelko said Rubio came across as a people person, and as someone who could work across the aisle and make deals with both parties.
Bell, Tobin and Chelko all agreed on the idea that Rubio's appeal extends to younger voters.
Oral Roberts University junior Gabriel Griffin said he likes Rubio’s policies on issues like immigration and that he thinks Rubio can bring in those voters who are unsure yet of who to vote for. He said he thinks Rubio can even reinvigorate the Republican Party, which he said has traditionally been a party of “old men.”
"This is a party of old men, but now he brings such a youthful flair and energy that is necessary for us to actually want to be a part of this party," Griffin said.
