It was the end of Marco-Mentum on Tuesday.
Marco Rubio has suspended his presidential campaign after a disappointing finish in Florida, further clearing Donald Trump’s path for the Republican presidential nomination.
“While it is not God’s plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I’ve even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is,” Rubio said.
The Florida senator, who at one point was seen as the establishment’s hope to stop Trump, eventually failed to galvanize voters, winning only a handful of races including Minnesota, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Rubio made the announcement during a speech at his campaign headquarters in Miami after losing his home state by a large margin to Trump. His campaign suffered a series of high and lows, finishing a strong third in the Iowa caucuses, only to fall flat at a GOP debate right before the New Hampshire primary. He then had a strong showing in South Carolina, coming second after Trump, then crashing again on Super Tuesday.
In recent weeks, Rubio exchanged jabs with Trump that at times bordered on childish. At one point, Rubio joked that Trump had small hands and even insinuated the business mogul wets his pants.
Rubio’s departure could give Texas Sen. Ted Cruz a much-needed boost, further establishing him as the antidote to Trump.