Retire at 40....

Rubio: 'Unlikely' I'll run for reelection

The Florida senator leaves the door a crack to reversing his planned retirement from the Senate after one term.

By BURGESS EVERETT and MARC CAPUTO

Mitch McConnell conducted a survey on Sen. Marco Rubio on Thursday: At a GOP caucus lunch, he asked senators whether they’d like to see Rubio run for reelection.

Every hand in the room went up. And then the Senate majority leader told senators to get to work persuading Rubio to ditch his retirement from the chamber after one term and run again, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

National Republicans are growing increasingly worried about their chances in Florida's open Senate race. And Rubio — adamant until now that he will seek a job in the private sector after his failed bid for president — is leaving the door open, if only a millimeter.

The Florida senator on Thursday said it was "unlikely" he would jump into the race, even as fellow Republicans began openly urging him to. A chaotic, five-way Republican primary has stoked worries that Rubio's seat will flip to Democrats.

"I didn't think it was fair for me to run for president and freeze that seat in a competitive state. So, I made my decision," Rubio told reporters on Thursday afternoon. "I don't have anything new to say from what I said in the past. ... I made that decision and I've lived by that decision. Nothing's changed."

But pressed further whether he might change his mind and file for the seat by the June 24 filing deadline, he replied: "I don't think so. Look, I enjoy serving with my colleagues, I respect them very much; I'll always listen to what they have to say. But I don't think anything's going to change."

By refusing to say “hell no” (a task left to Rubio's staff), the Florida senator ensures more coverage about his viability as a candidate — contrary to some pundits who suggest he’s damaged goods and his political career is over.

On the Senate floor Thursday afternoon, Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker of Tennessee joined a number of Republicans calling on Rubio to reconsider his plans, saying he "strongly encouraged" the senator to seek reelection.

The crowded primary fight in Florida has GOP officials fretting that the winner will be so damaged and depleted of cash that he will be unable to compete with Reps. Alan Grayson or Patrick Murphy, who are competing for the Democratic nomination.

Rubio said he isn't feeling "pressure" from his colleagues but acknowledged he is being approached by Republicans to reconsider. One top GOP strategist pointed to Sen. Cory Gardner's late entry into the Colorado Senate race in 2014 as evidence that Rubio could eventually come around.

Republicans have multiple reasons to fret about Rubio’s seat.

Florida Republican candidates tend to do worse statewide in presidential election years because Democrats, who outnumber GOP voters in raw registration numbers, tend to turn out in bigger numbers when compared to midterms.

GOP money is tight as well. Many donors feel tapped out after giving to the presidential campaigns and super PACs backing Rubio and Jeb Bush. On the other side, the Democrats’ Senate committee and super PAC announced a plan to spend at least $20.5 million in the general election for their nominee and against whichever Republican wins.

“The Florida Senate race is the big enchilada. It could decide control of the Senate,” Scott Reed, the U.S. Chamber’s top political strategist, told POLITICO on Wednesday afternoon as Senate Republicans geared up for their last push to get Rubio to change his mind.

“Florida has a late filing deadline, late primary and a sprint to November. It’s raising a real concern,” Reed said. “The five candidates, all of whom are working hard, are not breaking through. We worry about holding on to this seat.”

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is running in Rubio's mold. Rep. David Jolly is running as a campaign finance reformer, and Rep. Ron DeSantis as a conservative hardliner. Carlos Beruff is pouring his own money into the race and businessman Todd Wilcox is campaigning on a message stressing a strong military. The other contenders did not take kindly to the lack of confidence sent by GOP leaders’ campaign to recruit Rubio.

"As usual, Washington Republicans think they can control the race, but the voters of Florida will decide," said a spokesman for Beruff.

But neither he nor any other candidate, of course, have the name recognition that Rubio does.

"Republicans are in a very bad place," said a Republican strategist who has seen polling indicating Murphy's name recognition is increasing. Florida is "currently Republicans' No. 1 problem in the Senate" and "somebody needs to start thinking about the general election."

Rubio has been edging closer to an endorsement of Lopez-Cantera and continued singing his praises on Thursday. In an interview this month, Lopez-Cantera said that he would hope to serve in Rubio's mold as a senator: "There'd be a lot of similarities."

"Wait and see," Lopez-Cantera said of a pending Rubio endorsement. "He's said some very nice things, and I'll let Marco talk about his decisions. ... I'd be grateful and proud to have it. I'm sure anyone in this race would want" his backing.

Rubio has continued dropping hints that Lopez-Cantera is in line for his blessing, saying in an interview this month that he would be a "great senator" and that he's "very electable" because of his political base in South Florida. He also hosted a fundraiser for Lopez-Cantera earlier this month at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

"I'll have more to say about that in the coming weeks, at the appropriate time," Rubio said. "My help for Carlos so far is about more than just the politics of it. I don't have anything against anyone else running, but I've known him for 20 years."