Republican Marco Rubio changes mind on senate re-election bid

Florida Republican Marco Rubio, one of the final contenders to be beaten by businessman Donald Trump for the party's presidential nomination, has changed course and said he would seek re-election to the US senate.

Mr Rubio had originally planned to leave politics for the private sector after his failed presidential bid and repeatedly dismissed speculation that he would seek a second six-year senate term. He confirmed his widely expected reversal, telling supporters in an email: “I’ve changed my mind.”

While he has spoken of his frustration with the political gridlock in Congress, the freshman senator said the senate "could end up being its most important in the years to come: the constitutional power to act as a check and balance on the excesses of a president".

The 45-year-old politician said that control of the senate in November's congressional elections could come down to the race in Florida, and that the balance of the Supreme Court, with the deciding ninth seat still vacant, could be determined by Florida's senator.

Mr Rubio had to file before a deadline on Friday for candidates. His national profile and fundraising record will help win a swing-state senate seat, although his performance in the state’s Republican primary may hurt him and damage future presidential aspirations. He was beaten by Mr Trump in his home-state by a landslide 19-point loss in Florida’s primary where he won only one county, his base of Miami-Dade.

His defeat in the state, a key battleground in the presidential election, forced Mr Rubio to drop out of the race.

Citing poll data that showed Mr Rubio performing best in holding on to the Republican seat, Mr Trump tweeted last month that it was “important to keep the majority” in the senate. “Run Marco!” he wrote.