Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is sprinting towards the Iowa caucuses, avoiding direct confrontations with his opponents and instead, projecting a vision beyond the Feb. 1 lead-off contest.

Rubio was in Cedar Rapids, Sunday, campaigning with his cards close to his chest, even as polls show Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and billionaire Donald Trump ahead in Iowa.

Campaigning in eastern Iowa, he’s touting a scheduled joint appearance with Iowa’s popular Republican freshman Sen. Joni Ernst Monday.

Ernst, elected in 2014, is among several younger, recently elected members of Congress Rubio campaigns with, though Ernst says she will not endorse anyone before the caucuses.

He’s also highlighting endorsements by editorial boards of The Des Moines Register and The Sioux City Journal.

(AP)