TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Businessman Todd Wilcox is dropping out of Florida's Senate race and will back Marco Rubio, who decided at the last minute to run for re-election.
Wilcox made his announcement Friday, two days after saying he would stay in the race despite Rubio's decision.
That leaves only Carlos Beruff in the GOP primary against Rubio, who dropped out of the presidential election in March and insisted he wouldn't seek a second term.
On Wednesday, two days before the deadline to get on the ballot, Rubio announced he changed his mind.
Wilcox said he doesn't agree with Rubio on everything but thinks he has the better chance of winning in November. Gov. Rick Scott has said he won't back Rubio, and instead said voters should consider his friend Beruff.
WFTV political analyst Dr. Rick Foglesong said while polling shows Rubio has a sizable advantage over Beruff, Beruff is going after Donald Trump supporters.
Trump won 66 of Florida's 67 counties, knocking Rubio out of the presidential race.
Beruff also has the support of Gov. Rick Scott, an early ally of Donald Trump, and one of his most staunch defenders.
Scott this week declined to back Rubio, saying voters won't choose Washington.
"Marco Rubio now has to run as a political insider against Carlos Beruff, a genuine political outsider," said Foglesong
Beruff is showing no signs of letting up, sending an email saying,” Marco's going to have serious questions to answer across the state about where he's been the last six years."
The Republican primary winner will face either U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy or U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Cox Media Group
