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

Marco Rubio.
(Image credit: Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

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."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.