U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on Sunday promised to push for free trade and a stronger military, asking Arkansas voters to embrace his story, as well as conservative ideals, to ensure that the next generation of Americans has it as good -- or better -- than the ones before it.

Appearing before a packed hall in the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Rubio -- fresh from Saturday's second-place showing in the South Carolina primary, behind front-runner Donald Trump -- didn't mention any of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, at least, not by name.

Instead, the 44-year-old lawmaker urged the nearly 2,000 in attendance to embrace a candidate dynamic enough to be capable of beating either potential Democratic nominee come November.

"I'm as conservative as anyone in this race. But I'm the conservative who can win. And we have to win," Rubio said. "This cannot be the election about making a point. This has to be an election about making a difference. Because the stakes are too high."

Rubio's visit came with just over a week to go before the March 1 primary. Republican primaries will be held in 13 states that day, including Arkansas. Most of them are holding Democratic primaries, as well.

Rather than taking shots at fellow Republicans, Rubio invoked the past eight years of President Barack Obama's administration, and the spectre of a Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders administration, as cause to unite as a party.

Rubio made his case by promising to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act while investing more in the military, cutting government regulation and encouraging free enterprise and limited government.

The son of a pair of Cuban immigrants, one who worked as a bartender and the other who worked as a maid, Rubio said that he is proof of the American Dream. On Sunday, he promised to expand that dream whereas, he argued, Democrats' policies would make such a notion merely a memory.

"Why would I tell you this story? Because it's our story. Who among us here right now is not a generation or two removed from someone who made your future the purpose of their lives?" he asked. "You remember what your father did for you. ... You remember the sacrifices your mother made. ... Maybe it's what you're doing for your children now. ... This is our story. This is what makes us special, and this is what makes us different."

Rubio, a first-term senator from Florida, made his stop in Little Rock after campaigning in Tennessee and left for an evening event in Las Vegas. The party's Nevada caucus is Tuesday.

Rubio has drawn endorsements from about two dozen of Arkansas' legislators, mostly Republican with one independent. Rubio also has been endorsed by former congressman and current Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, as well as two from the state's congressional delegation, U.S. Reps. Steve Womack and Rick Crawford.

On Sunday, Rubio welcomed a few more Arkansas names into his camp.

State Auditor Andrea Lea, who refrained from joining fellow constitutional officers in endorsing former Gov. Mike Huckabee last year, said she's going to put in to be a Rubio delegate.

"He's like Ronald Reagan, giving a positive outlook for the future," Lea said. "There's very little negativity at all."

Speaker of the House Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, also endorsed Rubio. He said he identified with Rubio, who also served as his state's House speaker, and added that he was impressed with how Rubio has bounced back from missteps in the campaign, including a poor performance in the debate leading up to the New Hampshire primary.

"He showed a real toughness in South Carolina. He really stepped up," Gillam said. "You need someone [in the White House] who can positively sell their vision. ... It's one thing to make claims. ... But if no one likes you and no one wants to work with you. ... That's an impediment."

The Republican winner of the Iowa caucus, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, came to Arkansas in late December. In early February, Trump, the eventual winner of the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, packed thousands into Barton Coliseum at the State Fairgrounds.

Rubio generated a lot of attention after finishing a close third place to Trump in Iowa's Feb. 1 caucus. In New Hampshire, Rubio followed a criticized debate performance with a fifth-place finish. In Saturday's South Carolina primary, Rubio edged out Cruz by about a thousand votes to take second place behind Trump, who finished with nearly a third of the state's votes.

Speaking Sunday, Rubio vowed to not only unite a party that has been divided during a heated primary, but he also promised to bring millions of new voters to conservative causes.

"[Free enterprise] is the only economic system in the world where you can make poor people richer and you don't have to make rich people poorer," Rubio said. "Everyone can get ahead and you don't have to pull anyone down. ... [Democrats'] answer to everything is a tax. ... But big government doesn't work and in fact big government hurts those who are trying to make it."

Rebecca Lewis of Forrest City was one of hundreds to show up early at the Statehouse Convention Center. A long-time Republican and daughter of two former Democrats, Lewis has seen several of the Republican candidates who came to Arkansas, although she still hasn't made up her mind.

She said it's important to vet candidates in person.

"We've made enough mistakes in the past, just because people can speak well, or are a certain color," Lewis said. "People are gun shy. We're tired of the same ol' same ol' in Washington. The Pattycake."

When asked what she meant by Pattycake?

"Compromising too much," Lewis said. "Instead of standing their ground."

Lewis said she is leaning toward Cruz, but she said she thinks Rubio is a "principled" candidate. The senator reminds her of another young senator who ultimately became president: Democrat John F. Kennedy.

After Rubio's speech, Lewis said that Cruz and Rubio were now in a dead-heat for her vote.

Josh Duncan, 23, is voting for Rubio but not in Arkansas. The Ole Miss law student hit the road early Sunday to see a candidate he's been a fan of for years.

"His story, coming from nothing, from immigrant parents. ... And working his way up, it's truly the American Dream," Duncan said. "When he speaks, you get a feeling for the future of this country. ... [Rubio's message] is not attacking other people. It's how we as a people can come together."

Asked how he would vote if Rubio didn't win the nomination, Duncan grew a little reluctant.

"I would vote for Cruz. Not Trump," he said. "It would be hard to see another Democrat in office. ... But it'd be hard to see Trump."

Metro on 02/22/2016