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Now, however, Rubio appears to be gaining momentum at exactly the right moment.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came in third with 11.2 percent support, while another 10.3 percent of Republican respondents said their preferred candidate was not listed among the available options.
Businessman and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy registered just 1.4 percent in the survey, a surprisingly weak showing for a figure who once generated major excitement among conservative voters during the 2024 cycle.
But the most fascinating part of the poll may not be the horse-race numbers themselves.
According to the survey, Rubio still faces serious image problems nationally. Fifty-one percent of respondents reportedly hold a negative opinion of him, while 46 percent view him favorably. Vance’s numbers were even rougher, with 58 percent unfavorable compared to just 37 percent favorable.
Even so, Rubio’s rise represents a stunning reversal from just a few months ago.
The same polling firm’s previous national survey in December showed Vance crushing Rubio by a massive margin — 46.7 percent to 22.6 percent. The dramatic swing has fueled speculation that Republican voters may be reevaluating who they believe is best positioned to carry the America First movement into the post-Trump era.
Then came a moment at the White House this week that instantly ignited chatter across social media and conservative media outlets.
Speaking before a crowd on Monday, Trump openly floated both names in front of supporters.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked the audience before joking that the pair sounded “like a good ticket.”
“By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team. But these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance!” continued a seemingly half-kidding Trump.
The remarks immediately triggered fresh debate about whether Trump is quietly shaping the next generation of Republican leadership behind the scenes.
While Rubio has publicly avoided directly challenging Vance over the 2028 race, the secretary of state has increasingly become one of the administration’s most visible and trusted figures.
Trump himself has repeatedly praised Rubio’s work in recent months, especially regarding international negotiations and national security matters.
Rubio has reportedly played a leading role in shaping U.S. policy toward Venezuela following the American operation tied to the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro. He has also been deeply involved in diplomatic outreach connected to Cuba.
On the issue of Iran, Trump recently stated that Rubio is “totally involved” in negotiations, though reports indicate the administration has limited his participation in certain direct meetings with Iranian officials.
Rubio has additionally participated in discussions involving officials from both Ukraine and Russia as the administration continues pushing for a negotiated end to the conflict overseas.
The secretary of state also reached a historic milestone this month.
May 1 marked Rubio’s first anniversary serving as national security adviser, making him the first person since Henry Kissinger during the Richard Nixon administration to simultaneously hold both positions.
Rubio has also aligned closely with Trump on constitutional questions surrounding military authority.
Discussing Iran, Rubio backed Trump’s earlier argument that the War Powers Act is “unconstitutional.” The law, passed during the Vietnam era in 1973, requires presidents to seek congressional authorization within 60 days after launching military action.
Like many previous presidents from both parties, Rubio argued the law improperly limits the commander-in-chief’s constitutional authority.
He also claimed the conflict involving Iran had effectively concluded and said the administration is now entering what he described as a “new phase” centered on reopening maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian actions disrupted commercial shipping routes.
With Trump continuing to dominate Republican politics, the biggest question inside the GOP may now be simple: Is Rubio emerging as the candidate best positioned to inherit the movement once Trump finally steps aside?
