Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio is garnering support from mainstream Republican fundraisers and contributors for a 2016 presidential run, according to The Hill.

Those backing Rubio are antagonistic toward the tea party and see him as an alternative to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who faced new allegations over the weekend that allegedly implicate him in the "Bridge-gate" lane-closing scandal.

Rubio backers include Bill Paxon, a former New York lawmaker now with Akin Gump, an international law firm; Dirk Van Dongen, of the National Wholesalers Association, and Blackstone's Wayne Berman, a political and legislative risk specialist.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that party divisions have set the stage for a wide open battle for the Republican presidential nomination.

The senator's presidential stock has fluctuated. A year ago Time magazine hailed Rubio as "The Republican Savior" only to see him displaced by Christie after Rubio fumbled delivering the GOP response to the 2013 State of the Union Address. Rubio also antagonized conservatives by supporting Senate immigration reform legislation, according to the Post.

From Newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/marco-r...0#ixzz2sB6cnP7b

Marco Rubio: Another traitor to the United States Constitution foisted upon this once great nation by the Tea Party.

Wake Up, America!