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Sen. Marco Rubio Gives Speech, Answers Questions at LA Town Hall

Rubio declared his candidacy for president April 13 in Miami and this is first trip to California since the announcement

Presidential hopeful Sen. Marco Rubio delivered a speech and answered questions from Southern Californians at a nonpartisan town hall Tuesday afternoon.

Angelenos heard the Florida senator speak for about an hour with Town Hall Los Angeles at the City Club Los Angeles downtown.

"If we become globally competitive again, if we equip our people with the skills they need for the 21st century, if we exercise American leadership on a global stage, the 21st century won't be just as good as the 20th Century but it will be better," Rubio said.

Though he took no questions from reporters, the audience asked the politician several, ranging from regulatory reform to improving roads and bridges.

"I was impressed but I'm a Democrat," said Hilary Norton, executive director of a transportation nonprofit. "But I'm glad we are adding new ideas into the conversation."

The junior senator also had the chance to reiterate his opposition to lifting the embargo on Cuba.
"We should not cozy up to a government that sells arms to North Korea or denies basic human rights to its citizens," Rubio said.

Rubio announced his candidacy for president April 13 in Miami and has traveled throughout the country to raise money and support.

Rubio has the challenge of setting himself apart from the two Republican candidates who are officially running, Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky, along with a pool of other potential contenders.

He's the youngest candidate in the race at 43 years old.

Rubio will also hold private fundraisers in LA and San Francisco on his first trip to the Golden State since he announced his run for higher office, The Associated Press reported.

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