Democrats plan to derail Marco Rubio if he jumps into Senate race
Democrats are already planning an effort to try to derail Marco Rubio if he plans to run for reelection for his Senate seat, CNN reports.
"If Marco decides to run, it's going to be tough," Sen. Jon Tester, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, told CNN on Tuesday. "If he gets beat twice in one year, it's not good for him," he added, a reference to Rubio's defeat in his home state during the Republican presidential primary fight.
Democrats are planning to spend millions of dollars in the Senate race if Rubio decides to jump in. The Florida Republican has been reconsidering his decision to not seek reelection, especially after the Orlando shooting attack that left 49 people dead and 53 people wounded early Sunday morning.
"Democrats are going to really go after him," another high-ranking Democratic source told CNN. "Because if he loses this time, he's gone for president in 2020."
Rubio hinted on Hugh Hewitt's radio show Monday, a day after the shooting attack, that he was reconsidering his decision.
"I haven't even given it thought in that perspective, other than to say I've been deeply impacted by it, and I think when it visits your home states, when it impacts a community you know well, it really gives you pause, to think a little bit about your service to your country and where you can be most useful to your country," Rubio said.
He suspended his presidential campaign in mid-March and announced soon after that he would not run for political office again. Rubio was due to deliver a floor speech on Tuesday, but it was postponed.
Rep. David Jolly, R-Florida, is currently running for Rubio's seat, but told Fox News on Wednesday morning that he will announce his intentions about his future in Congress on Friday.
"I will support Marco if he gets in the race," Jolly said.