Posted on 06/22/2016 8:01:57 AM PDT by detective
One-time Republican presidential candidate and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will be running to keep his Senate seat, reversing course on his initial decision not to seek reelection.
In an interview with the Miami Herald on Wednesday, Rubio explained what was behind his change of heart.
"I think that the point that really drove me to change my mind is that as we enter this kind of new chapter in our history here is, there's another role the Senate plays that I think can be really important in the years to come," he said. "And that's the power given to it in the Constitution to act as a check and balance on the excess of the president. It's even more important given the fact that control of the Senate could very well come down to what happens in the Florida race."
The Florida senator's decision came amid GOP concerns that its control of the Senate was in danger in November. The National Review was the first to report Wednesday that Rubio's intention to run for reelection.
Rubio had been under increasing pressure from his Senate colleagues to reconsider his previous decision, especially in light of a brutal Republican primary race in the state and the threat of losing the GOP's majority in the upper chamber come November.
The Florida senator suspended his bid for the presidency in March, after he failed to win the Republican primary in his home state.
After news broke of Rubio's intentions, Texas Sen. John Cornyn weighed in with his approval:
Even Trump, who once said Rubio "couldn't get elected dog catcher" in his home state of Florida, had pushed his former rival to reconsider.
Trump sent a tweet in May urging the Florida senator to help "keep the MAJORITY" for Republicans in the upper chamber:
Rubio's chances for re-election against Democrats are higher than any other GOP challengers' to his Senate seat. According to a new Quinnipiac poll out Wednesday, Rubio leads either Democratic candidate.
In Florida, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Rubio leading Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy 47 to 40 percent. He leads over Rep. Alan Grayson by a slightly larger margin: 48 to 40 percent. Murphy and Grayson, in comparison, are ahead of the other Republican contenders.
I hope he loses to another Republican, no matter which one. If we're going to have a GOP establishment Senator, I'd just as soon have one that's honest about being an establishment "moderate" than a conman like Rubio who poses as a conservative but then votes to the Left of Mitch McConnell (in those rare instances where Marco even bothered to show up and vote, that is).
He couldn’t find a high enough paying private sector job, apparently.
It will be interesting. I don’t want to have to vote for him.
I hope he loses. So sick of these career politicians.
And, at the same time, he withholds his support for Donald Trump and emphasizes his role in reigning him in if Trump becomes President.
We don’t know that at all!
Rubio has come out of the gate with his fists up
IF Rubio had presented an humble, willing to unite attitude today......yeah maybe......but he didn’t
Rubio took the pledge to support the R. nominee, but now he refuses to do so.
He is a man without honor or character.
I think we have to play the percentages here, hold our nose and give Rubio the seat, since there is no one who is running and is more conservative (or less liberal).
...
Sadly, you’re right.
Odd how the guy who was going to run against The Rube suddenly backed out, recently. :(
Of course. He's never worked, so he has no experience, he posses no real skills, and he's lazy - a natural politician.
Boobio is going to lose.
This is the guy who managed the feat of every losing every country in FL except Miami-Dade.
Stick a fork in him; he’s done. If he’s the best the GOP establishment can offer, that speaks volumes about how much Americans don’t like politicians.
Especially politicians that go back on their word to retire.
Floridians don’t plain like him.
Democrats will cut commercials depicting him as the absentee Senator and someone who just doesn’t like his job.
And they’ll remind people Trump crushed him in his own home state.
It will be him or that scumbag Grayson No brainer!
“...either will immediately glom on to Reid/Durbin and fight Trump’s agenda.”
Turbin is staying, but Reid is done.
I may be wrong, but I think most, if not all, of the other potential nominees are dropping out now.
That's a shame. I was hoping to never have to see or hear about this over-hyped empty suit ever again.
On the bright side, maybe Rubio will learn a lesson from the shellaking he got and realize that, if he has presidential ambitions, he has to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
I won’t hold me breath but, hey, if Trump can go from Clinton donor to Clinton opponent anything’s possible.
I find that very odd indeed!
I concur. Jax, FL here.
Rubio couldn’t be bothered to show up for the job the last time he had it. Why would anyone support him now?
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