Marco Rubio praises Jeb Bush while celebrating possible second place finish in South Carolina

Marco Rubio announced Saturday night in South Carolina that the Republicans are now in a three-person race.

Rubio made his speech while running in second place behind Donald Trump and slightly ahead of Ted Cruz, with 87 percent of South Carolina primary precincts reporting. Rubio had kind words for Jeb Bush, who minutes earlier declared he was suspending his presidential campaign. "I have an incredible affection and admiration not only for Gov. Bush, but for his family and their service to this country," he said. He also called Bush an "extraordinary husband and father" and the "greatest governor in the history of Florida," and said he prayed that his "service to this country has not yet ended."

Rubio said that his apparent second place finish sent a message that "this country is now ready for a new generation of conservatives to guide us into the 21st century" and "the children of the Reagan revolution are ready to accept the mantle of leadership." He also said he believes "God's hand is on everything," and if it is "God's will that I should serve as the 45th president, if it is God's will that we should win this election, than history will say on his night in South Carolina we took the first step forward in the beginning of a new American century."

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