Ron Paul on Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio: They're 'average'

By Ashley Killough, CNN

updated 8:06 AM EST, Wed November 19, 2014

(CNN) -- Ahead of a speech Wednesday in Florida, former Rep. Ron Paul seemed uninspired by two of the Sunshine State's two political big shots: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and former Gov. Jeb Bush.

"I'd say they were pretty average, status quo, middle-of-the-roaders," the former three-time presidential candidate and libertarian minded Republican told the Tampa Bay Times in a story published Tuesday.

Both men -- like Paul's son, Sen. Rand Paul -- are widely considered to be potential candidates for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Paul's comments came ahead of a speech he's set to give Wednesday night at the University of South Florida, the same place where he held a rally that drew thousands during the week of the Republican National Convention in 2012, which was also in Tampa.

Paul famously refused to endorse the GOP's then-presumptive nominee Mitt Romney or speak at the convention.

In the interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Paul didn't elaborate on his son's expected presidential bid or whether Paul would be a part of that effort.

"I guess we will know next year," he said.

Originally posted here:
Ron Paul on Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio: They're 'average'