Marco Rubio taking steps toward presidential bid

Is it ready for Marco Rubio time?

ABC News reports the Florida senator is taking tangible steps toward a 2016 presidential race, such as hiring a finance director to raise money and scheduling trips to early presidential states as part of his book tour.

"He has told us to proceed as if he is running for president," an unnamed senior Rubio adviser told ABC News.

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Rubio reportedly will skip votes in the Senate next week so he can raise money in California, Texas and Illinois, the ABC News report says. Anna Rogers — currently finance director of American Crossroads, the conservative group co-founded by Karl Rove — will go to work for Rubio's political action committee starting Feb. 1.

The senator also will visit Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and Nevada as he promotes American Dreams.