Around the world, America's influence has declined while this president [Barack Obama] has destroyed our military, our allies no longer trust us, and our adversaries no longer respect us.

Our brave men and women have made many sacrifices in just wars to defeat the forces of evil. We have exported our greatest values: freedom and opportunity, which have lifted millions out of poverty. At home, these values allow Americans to use their God-given potential and make their dreams reality.

People end up fleeing countries who adopt economic policies based on these flawed principles. And more often than not, they come here.

To help people emerge from the poverty, you have to understand, what are the structural causes of it? And the structural causes are partially cultural.

Cuba continues to be a source of instability in the region. For example, historic numbers of people are fleeing the island of Cuba, putting migratory pressure on the United States. Number two, this Cuban government is anti-American. They sponsor - they allow the Chinese and the Russians to conduct espionage, electronic espionage and others from the island of Cuba.

Let me start by saying that I do not enjoy nor relish the partisan role of attack dog. I never found any fun in that. I don't think it's constructive. I don't intend to become that here in the Senate.

We can't win - if we nominate someone - if we nominate someone that half of the Republican Party hates, we're going to be fighting against each other all the way to November [of 2016]. We will never win that way.