Florida Senator [score]Marco Rubio[/score] made it crystal clear to reporters that his career in public office was over. But following the terror attack in Orlando, the Senator had a change of heart.
Former Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio reversed course Wednesday and said he will seek re-election to the Senate, telling Fox News: “I changed my mind.”
The decision, widely expected among his Florida Republican colleagues, follows repeated claims during the GOP presidential primary race that he would not run again for Senate. But Rubio, who suspended his presidential campaign in March, had come under pressure from senior GOP figures to reconsider – and publicly opened the door to doing so after the Orlando terror attack.
“It really gives you pause to think a little bit about, you know, your service to your country and where you can be most useful to your country,” Rubio told radio host Hugh Hewitt during an interview last Monday.
Republicans need to keep the majority in the Senate, and Marco Rubio running for re-election could improve their chances. But Rubio has a long road ahead: 20% of Florida’s population (of voting age) is Hispanic.
Will having Donald Trump at the top of the ticket ultimately work against Rubio? One thing is for sure- Democrat and Republican donors will be spending big money in Florida this year to find out.
