Marco Rubio Touts Father's Story In First Early-State Ad

Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) presidential campaign on Tuesday unveiled its first early-state ad, a biographical spot that recounts the candidate's family history and touts Rubio as a testament to the American dream.

The 60-second ad features Rubio speaking about his father's work as a bartender -- a story he tells in nearly every campaign speech. His parents were Cubans who immigrated to the U.S. in 1956.

"When I was younger, I didn't fully appreciate all he did for us. But now, I more fully understand," Rubio narrates in the ad, over images of a man arriving home late at night. "You see, my father was grateful for the work he had, but that was not the life he wanted for his children. He wanted all the dreams he once had for himself to come true for us. He wanted all the doors that closed for him to open for me."

Rubio adds: "So my father stood behind a small portable bar in the back of a room for all those years, so that I could stand behind this podium in front of this room and this nation. That journey from behind that bar to behind this podium, that's the essence of the American dream."

The ad is meant to introduce Rubio to voters who may not be familiar with the candidate and his life story. It's slated to begin airing in Iowa this week and in New Hampshire next week. According to NBC News , it is backed by a $20 million cable buy.

Rubio's campaign unveiled its first nationwide television ad on Sunday, focused on addressing the threat of the Islamic State group in the wake of the deadly Paris terror attacks.

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