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| Marco Rubio to seek re-election to Florida Senate seat | |
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| Marco Rubio will seek re-election to a second term in the US Senate, he announced on Wednesday, marking a reversal from his repeated vows to become a private citizen after the failure of his presidential campaign in March. | Marco Rubio will seek re-election to a second term in the US Senate, he announced on Wednesday, marking a reversal from his repeated vows to become a private citizen after the failure of his presidential campaign in March. |
| “In politics, admitting you’ve changed your mind is not something most people like to do. But here it goes,” Rubio said in a statement. “I have decided to seek re-election to the United States Senate.” | “In politics, admitting you’ve changed your mind is not something most people like to do. But here it goes,” Rubio said in a statement. “I have decided to seek re-election to the United States Senate.” |
| Rubio’s decision, which will shake up one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, caps off weeks of speculation about his political future. And while it provides a boon to Republicans, who see Rubio as one of their best hopes to retain a majority in the Senate, it also inextricably ties his fortunes to Donald Trump as the party’s standard-bearer in November. | Rubio’s decision, which will shake up one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, caps off weeks of speculation about his political future. And while it provides a boon to Republicans, who see Rubio as one of their best hopes to retain a majority in the Senate, it also inextricably ties his fortunes to Donald Trump as the party’s standard-bearer in November. |
| Rubio, who has endorsed Trump, acknowledged that he was breaking a pledge to leave the Senate in January. But he cited his dissatisfaction with both Trump and Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, as reason to stay in the chamber and try to shape the direction of the country. | Rubio, who has endorsed Trump, acknowledged that he was breaking a pledge to leave the Senate in January. But he cited his dissatisfaction with both Trump and Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, as reason to stay in the chamber and try to shape the direction of the country. |
| Standing by his support for Trump, Rubio nevertheless told CNN he viewed his Senate seat as a way to “act as a check and balance on the next president ... even against a president in my own party”. | Standing by his support for Trump, Rubio nevertheless told CNN he viewed his Senate seat as a way to “act as a check and balance on the next president ... even against a president in my own party”. |
| The senator also stated he did not plan to campaign with Trump, whose effect on down-ballot races may well prove toxic in November. | The senator also stated he did not plan to campaign with Trump, whose effect on down-ballot races may well prove toxic in November. |
| “I think the differences between us on key issues are so significant that ... I’ve got to run my own race,” Rubio said. “I have my own identity. I have my own position on issues.” | “I think the differences between us on key issues are so significant that ... I’ve got to run my own race,” Rubio said. “I have my own identity. I have my own position on issues.” |
| But Rubio reiterated his intention to vote for Trump, and signaled he would not go out of his way to undermine his former opponent in a way that might help Clinton. | But Rubio reiterated his intention to vote for Trump, and signaled he would not go out of his way to undermine his former opponent in a way that might help Clinton. |
| “It’s a choice between someone who I disagree with on a lot of things and someone who I disagree with on everything, and it’s not the choice I wanted,” Rubio said. | “It’s a choice between someone who I disagree with on a lot of things and someone who I disagree with on everything, and it’s not the choice I wanted,” Rubio said. |
| Rubio’s decision, two days before Florida’s 24 June filing deadline, has already resulted in significant repercussions for a Senate race that until his entry comprised a crowded Republican field. Two GOP candidates – congressman Ron DeSantis and the state’s attorney general, Carlos Lopez-Cantera – confirmed on Wednesday they would bow out of the contest following Rubio’s announcement. | Rubio’s decision, two days before Florida’s 24 June filing deadline, has already resulted in significant repercussions for a Senate race that until his entry comprised a crowded Republican field. Two GOP candidates – congressman Ron DeSantis and the state’s attorney general, Carlos Lopez-Cantera – confirmed on Wednesday they would bow out of the contest following Rubio’s announcement. |
| Rubio had previously cited his loyalty to Lopez-Cantera as one of the main reasons he was reticent to enter the race – but following the 12 June massacre in Orlando, Lopez-Cantera said he himself urged Rubio to reconsider re-election. | Rubio had previously cited his loyalty to Lopez-Cantera as one of the main reasons he was reticent to enter the race – but following the 12 June massacre in Orlando, Lopez-Cantera said he himself urged Rubio to reconsider re-election. |
| Representative David Jolly, another GOP contender for Rubio’s seat, announced late last week that he would drop out of the race. The main source of defiance came from businessman Carlos Beruff, who vowed to pour as much as $15m into a primary campaign to defeat Rubio. | Representative David Jolly, another GOP contender for Rubio’s seat, announced late last week that he would drop out of the race. The main source of defiance came from businessman Carlos Beruff, who vowed to pour as much as $15m into a primary campaign to defeat Rubio. |
| “Career politicians like Marco Rubio worry more about keeping the job than doing the job and are constantly looking for their next political promotion,” Beruff said in a statement Wednesday. “This isn’t Marco Rubio’s seat, this is Florida’s seat.” | “Career politicians like Marco Rubio worry more about keeping the job than doing the job and are constantly looking for their next political promotion,” Beruff said in a statement Wednesday. “This isn’t Marco Rubio’s seat, this is Florida’s seat.” |
| During the Republican presidential primary, Rubio was walloped by Donald Trump in his home state – leading to the termination of his campaign in March. Rubio won just one of Florida’s 67 counties, his home of Miami-Dade, in a bruising 19-point loss that foreshadowed other challenges he might face in his bid to hold on to his Senate seat. | During the Republican presidential primary, Rubio was walloped by Donald Trump in his home state – leading to the termination of his campaign in March. Rubio won just one of Florida’s 67 counties, his home of Miami-Dade, in a bruising 19-point loss that foreshadowed other challenges he might face in his bid to hold on to his Senate seat. |
| Alex Conant, the former spokesman for Rubio’s presidential campaign who will now serve as an adviser to his Senate bid, conceded the race would be competitive. But he pointed to the obvious advantages associated with Rubio’s name recognition – from a vast donor network to a widespread grassroots following. | Alex Conant, the former spokesman for Rubio’s presidential campaign who will now serve as an adviser to his Senate bid, conceded the race would be competitive. But he pointed to the obvious advantages associated with Rubio’s name recognition – from a vast donor network to a widespread grassroots following. |
| “Marco enters the race in a much stronger position than he did six years ago,” Conant said, while adding that a new poll showing Rubio comfortably ahead of likely Democratic opponent Patrick Murphy reaffirmed that the senator “is excellently positioned to win”. | “Marco enters the race in a much stronger position than he did six years ago,” Conant said, while adding that a new poll showing Rubio comfortably ahead of likely Democratic opponent Patrick Murphy reaffirmed that the senator “is excellently positioned to win”. |
| Murphy, a member of the House of Representatives, previewed an ugly battle ahead over the weekend by attacking Rubio as one of the country’s “most homophobic” senators and accusing him of exploiting for political gain the mass shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that left 49 dead and another 53 injured. | Murphy, a member of the House of Representatives, previewed an ugly battle ahead over the weekend by attacking Rubio as one of the country’s “most homophobic” senators and accusing him of exploiting for political gain the mass shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that left 49 dead and another 53 injured. |
| Murphy responded swiftly to Rubio’s re-election news on Wednesday with a statement dubbing the senator “only out for himself”. | Murphy responded swiftly to Rubio’s re-election news on Wednesday with a statement dubbing the senator “only out for himself”. |
| “Marco Rubio abandoned his constituents, and now he’s treating them like a consolation prize,” Murphy said. | “Marco Rubio abandoned his constituents, and now he’s treating them like a consolation prize,” Murphy said. |
| Democrats are eager to seize upon Rubio’s prior criticisms of the Senate while running for president. During his campaign, Rubio routinely sought to tap into voter frustration with Washington by expressing his own disenchantment with political leaders in both parties. | Democrats are eager to seize upon Rubio’s prior criticisms of the Senate while running for president. During his campaign, Rubio routinely sought to tap into voter frustration with Washington by expressing his own disenchantment with political leaders in both parties. |
| “Never in our history has Washington been more out of touch,” he declared. | “Never in our history has Washington been more out of touch,” he declared. |
| Defending his then abysmal attendance record in the Senate, Rubio in essence made the case that the body had little influence in moving policy. | Defending his then abysmal attendance record in the Senate, Rubio in essence made the case that the body had little influence in moving policy. |
| “I have missed votes this year,” Rubio said at a Republican debate in October. “You know why? Because while as a senator I can help shape the agenda. Only a president can set the agenda. | “I have missed votes this year,” Rubio said at a Republican debate in October. “You know why? Because while as a senator I can help shape the agenda. Only a president can set the agenda. |
| “We’re not going to fix America with senators and congressmen,” he added. | “We’re not going to fix America with senators and congressmen,” he added. |
| Rubio’s colleagues hardly took the criticism to heart. Led by the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republicans mounted a pressure campaign in recent weeks to persuade him to run for re-election. | Rubio’s colleagues hardly took the criticism to heart. Led by the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republicans mounted a pressure campaign in recent weeks to persuade him to run for re-election. |
| And as Rubio announced his decision on Wednesday, even his former presidential rivals were quick to jump on board. | And as Rubio announced his decision on Wednesday, even his former presidential rivals were quick to jump on board. |
| Texas senator Ted Cruz, Ohio governor John Kasich, and even former Florida governor Jeb Bush – who bitterly sparred with Rubio in the Republican primary – all offered their stamp of approval. Trump had already expressed his enthusiasm for a second Rubio term in a tweet late last month. | Texas senator Ted Cruz, Ohio governor John Kasich, and even former Florida governor Jeb Bush – who bitterly sparred with Rubio in the Republican primary – all offered their stamp of approval. Trump had already expressed his enthusiasm for a second Rubio term in a tweet late last month. |
| Poll data shows that @marcorubio does by far the best in holding onto his Senate seat in Florida. Important to keep the MAJORITY. Run Marco! | Poll data shows that @marcorubio does by far the best in holding onto his Senate seat in Florida. Important to keep the MAJORITY. Run Marco! |
| Whether voters in Florida can be as convinced to give Rubio a second chance remains to be seen. The senator’s efforts to mend his image in his home state began immediately after his exit from the presidential race, as he returned to the Senate with renewed vigor and began to squarely focus on issues affecting Florida, including the Zika virus, the Puerto Rico debt crisis and subpar publicly subsidized housing. | Whether voters in Florida can be as convinced to give Rubio a second chance remains to be seen. The senator’s efforts to mend his image in his home state began immediately after his exit from the presidential race, as he returned to the Senate with renewed vigor and began to squarely focus on issues affecting Florida, including the Zika virus, the Puerto Rico debt crisis and subpar publicly subsidized housing. |
| While victory would help Rubio secure a triumphant comeback, a second loss in his home state could all but end his political career. | While victory would help Rubio secure a triumphant comeback, a second loss in his home state could all but end his political career. |
| Rubio declined on Wednesday to rule out seeking the presidency once more – even as early as 2020. The senator simply stated he was done making “unequivocal pronunciations” after reversing course on the Senate race, having memorably tweeted just last month: “I have only said like 10,000 times I will be a private citizen in January.” | Rubio declined on Wednesday to rule out seeking the presidency once more – even as early as 2020. The senator simply stated he was done making “unequivocal pronunciations” after reversing course on the Senate race, having memorably tweeted just last month: “I have only said like 10,000 times I will be a private citizen in January.” |
| Rubio did, however, appear willing to accept the notion that he was wagering his political future on one of the most volatile election cycles in modern history. | Rubio did, however, appear willing to accept the notion that he was wagering his political future on one of the most volatile election cycles in modern history. |
| “If my plan was to run for president in 2020, jumping into a race like this, with all the political risks associated with it, would not be the decision one would make,” Rubio said in his interview with CNN. | “If my plan was to run for president in 2020, jumping into a race like this, with all the political risks associated with it, would not be the decision one would make,” Rubio said in his interview with CNN. |
| “I’m fully prepared to have the US Senate be the last political job that I ever have.” | “I’m fully prepared to have the US Senate be the last political job that I ever have.” |