Rubio poised for Connecticut payday

State Sen. Art Linares, R-Westbrook, seen in this contributed 2011 photo from when he was an intern for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is now running for president.

State Sen. Art Linares, R-Westbrook, right,  seen in this contributed 2011 photo from when he was an intern for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is now running for president.

A telegenic young Republican with a Horatio Alger story and a bloodline that can be traced back to Cuba.

Sound familiar?

Four years ago, Art Linares was a impressionable intern in the office of the newly-elected senator from Florida and rising star of the GOP, Marco Rubio. Fast forward to 2015, and the second-term state senator Linares is poised to ensure his political mentor doesn’t not go home from Connecticut empty-handed when Rubio visits Stamford Thursday for the state Republican Party’s marquee fundraiser.

Linares, 26, will co-host an afternoon roundtable for the GOP presidential contender at the Hilton Stamford Hotel — the fundraiser before the fundraiser — before Rubio gives the keynote address at the Prescott Bush Awards Dinner that night at the Crowne Plaza Stamford.

Linares’ father and grandparents fled Cuba for Spain and then Newark, N.J., following the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

“They left wearing clothes made out of potato sacks made by my grandmother. I know Sen. Rubio has a similar story,” Linares said.

About two to three dozen VIPs will get to schmooze with Rubio for $2,700 each, the maximum federal contribution allowed for the primary phase of the presidential race. Rubio will then make the 10-minute drive to the Crowne Plaza, where 800 Republicans from across the state will be waiting at the sold-out benefit for the state GOP. Tickets started at $199 for the dinner. There is a $2,500 price tier for a photo with Rubio and a $5,000 tier for a photo and priority seating.

“He’s in an incredible story,” Linares said. “I think it’s great for people across this country to see how someone can come from nothing to be a serious candidate for president of the United States.”

Rubio is the latest presidential hopeful to headline the event, following former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (2014) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (2013).

“I think he has a lot to offer,” said Linares, who is from Westbrook.

Neil Vigdor