Rubio tells Club for Growth its picks are GOP's new leaders

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Republican Sen. Marco Rubio told the anti-tax group Club for Growth on Saturday that the Senate candidates they've backed recently represent the Republican Party's new leadership.

The Florida senator was among a half-dozen presidential prospects who spoke at the group's three-day winter meeting, which ended Saturday at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.

Among Republican senators attending the meeting were Arkansas' Tom Cotton, Texas' Ted Cruz, Utah's Mike Lee, Alaska's Dan Sullivan and Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey. All received the club's backing in their campaigns.

"You have some of the future leadership in this room tonight," Rubio said. "We have future presidents, future majority leaders, future leaders of our party."

The Club for Growth has become a key player in Republican primaries and is weighing making its first endorsement for president.