Even as Donald Trump and the GOP Senate leadership urge him to run for a second term, Florida Republican Marco Rubio went to bat for the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) on Tuesday.
During his campaign for Republican presidential nomination, Rubio insisted he would not run for another term in the Senate. But Republicans are increasingly nervous about losing control of the Senate in November as GOP senators in blue states--Mark Kirk of Illinois, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania--look vulnerable.
Already key Senate Republicans--including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, NRSC Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and former NRSC Chairman John Cornyn of Texas--have urged Rubio run for another term. Now Rubio is making a pitch for Republicans and conservatives to back the NRSC.
“Now is the time to act,” Rubio wrote in a fundraising email sent out on Tuesday. “The Democrats are desperate to take control of the United States Senate and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve their goal. Our liberal opponents have already launched countless attacks against many of my Republican colleagues. We must protect our Republican Senate majority. Defeating these Democrats will only be possible if conservatives like us stand together to defend our Republican Senate. I am counting on your help.
“Together, we can maintain and expand our Republican Senate majority and achieve a tremendous victory this November,” Rubio added.
In the meantime, Democrats are starting to signal they are preparing to take on Rubio if he decides to run for a second term. Patrick Murphy’s team warned supporters over the weekend that Rubio could run again and insisted they were ready for that possibility. National pundits also started to weigh in, insisting Rubio could try to remain in the Senate.
If he does change his mind, Rubio has until June 24 to enter the race though his staff downplayed that possibility last week. Congressmen Ron DeSantis and David Jolly both said they would bow out of the Republican primary if Rubio runs again. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is also expected to drop out of the Senate race if Rubio enters. However businessman and Army veteran Todd Wilcox and businessman Carlos Beruff have both insisted they will stay in the race regardless of what Rubio does.
