After hiring a well-known Romney operative in New Hampshire to “help him on his upcoming book tour,” Senator Marco Rubio is really starting to look like someone who is focused on running for president in 2016.

Actually, Rubio could very well have all the pieces in place to make an announcement at any given time, even as the majority of Floridians who supported his 2010 Senate campaign, hope that he stays in the U.S. Senate.

Before, many people dismissed Rubio’s presidential chess moves as simple book-selling ploys, but with his latest book barely squeaking out 2,800 in sales, this may not be the reason why he continues to push forward as a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2016.

Rubio has become one of the most hawkish senators when it comes to foreign affairs, especially with the ongoing issue of global Islamic terrorism, and U.S.-Cuba relations, and as U.S. Senator, there really is only so much you can do to affect policy.

Rubio has made his most definitive statement about his intentions of running in 2016 when he told radio show host Hugh Hewitt that when it comes to the all-important issue of foreign policy, “it’s very difficult to set the tone simply from the Senate.”

It is no secret within some of Rubio’s circles that he is not all that fond of being in the U.S. Senate, so perhaps this is his way of getting out of Dodge?

Here is the Q & A with Hugh Hewitt, as published by Alex Leary at the Tampa Bay Times:

HH: Last question, how much will issues like the Iran deal have to do with your decision to run or not run?

MR: Well, that’s a great question. Look, I think it’s important. I think you do a lot in the Senate to further national security issues and foreign policy. But I really think that when it comes to foreign policy and the national security of this country, the election we’re going to have in November of 2016 will be the most important election we’ve had in probably half a century, if not longer. And it’s very difficult to set the tone simply from the Senate. You can be one of many voices, and influential voices in the Senate. But ultimately, only the presidency can set the true tenor and direction of our foreign policy and national security. And I don’t think anyone can argue that we are safer or more respected in the world today than we were five years ago.

Hewitt also asked Rubio about Jeb Bush, and Rubio again said Bush will not factor in his decision.

MR: First of all, I think we’re going to have multiple candidates that are of high quality, and Governor Bush would be one of them. I wouldn’t be running against Jeb Bush. If I ran, I would run because I believe I’m the right person for the right time in our country’s history. And certainly, voters will make that decision, not me. My job is to go out and do the best I can if I decide to run for president to convince them that that’s me. But I have admiration for him, and continue to have personal affection for him as well. I think he’s going to be a very strong candidate. He’s going to raise a lot of money, has a lot of smart people around him on his team. He’ll be a very significant candidate. But I don’t, I wouldn’t view it as me running against Jeb Bush. I was considering, I would consider running whether he was in the race or not in the race. And so me, it really has nothing to do with him. It has to do about where I feel like I can best serve America at this time in America’s history, and at this time in my life and my career.