Marco Rubio Insists Jeb Bush Won't Affect His 2016 Timetable

Could the 2016 Republican presidential primary turn into a Sunshine State brawl?

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a potential GOP presidential candidate, responded to Tuesday's announcement by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush that he would "actively explore" running for president.

"Bush is someone I admire greatly," Rubio told ABC's Jeff Zeleny. "I think he'd be a very formidable candidate."

Rubio declined to say whether he has spoken to Bush since his 2016 exploratory announcement yesterday, but said his decision wouldn't be influenced by Bush's.

"If you decide to run for President you do so because you want to be President, not you want to be president unless someone else wants to be president first," Rubio said. "I want to make my decision on the basis of where's the best place for me to achieve our agenda to restore the American dream and that's a decision we're going to make."

Sen. Rubio said Bush's plans do not affect his timetable of making his decision of whether he will throw his hat into the 2016 ring.

Rubio added, "We'll make a decision in due course."