Marco Rubio: No Plans to Endorse in GOP Presidential and Senate Primaries in 2012

A host of potential candidates for the Republican presidential nomination headed down to Florida to back Marco Rubio during last years Senate race -- but dont expect Rubio to return the favor. Politico is reporting that Rubio, who backed Mike Huckabee in 2008, has said that he does not expect to endorse any of the candidates looking to take Barack Obama on come 2012.

From the article:

Im going to stay neutral, he said in the Capitol.

Of course, by staying neutral, it could also help Rubios chances of being selected as a vice presidential candidate by any of the White House hopefuls.

The article also noted that Rubio plans to stay out of the GOP primary battle to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012:

But Rubio said he plans to stay out of party squabbles in his home state next year, including in a primary battle for the other Florida Senate seat. To make his case, he subtly pointed to the fact that Washington Republicans, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, initially backed his then-primary opponent, former Gov. Charlie Crist, in his 2010 race.

Im going to support the nominee, but Im not going to endorse there, he said with a smile. I had a bad primary experience.