Washington (CNN)The 2016 calculations of three potential candidates -- two Republicans and a very senior Democrat -- plus big tests for President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filled our Sunday trip around the "Inside Politics" table. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida skipped the big weekend GOP gathering in Iowa, and some believe Jeb Bush's presumed candidacy makes it hard for Rubio to find his 2016 footing. But Jonathan Martin of The New York Times shared reporting on how Rubio is still very interested in running, and hopeful that perhaps the interest from Mitt Romney offers him a new place in the growing GOP field.
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Why Rubio is excited about a potential Romney run
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2016 tea leaves: Biden's not in touch with top Democrats in Iowa
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The impact of a Palin candidacy on a crowded conservative field
Mitt Romney
Romney
"If you have a Jeb Bush and @placeholder scenario, that could open up a door for Rubio because it divides the center right and also it makes Rubio look more conservative, less establishment."
Marco Rubio
Rubio
Rubio
Rubio
"If you have a Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney scenario, that could open up a door for @placeholder because it divides the center right and also it makes Rubio look more conservative, less establishment."
Biden
So all the signs out there -- this is the time when he would need to be reaching out to those people that he's known for a long time, and they're not hearing from @placeholder."
Democrats
"Expect to see Republicans allow for a few more (debates on amendments), at least this week, partly because the moderate @placeholder, that Republicans are going to need to pass this bill, expressed some displeasure about it over the weekend," said O'Keefe.
Obama
Just watching him ask for authorization of military force was a reminder the world has not unfolded as @placeholder had hoped.