So things don’t look so encouraging for Rubio. But he may not be seriously eyeing a White House run anyway: A high-ranking GOP party official who asked that his name be withheld told me on Monday that Jeb Bush’s people have just met with Rubio’s people and a 2016 deal was struck. If Jeb runs for president then Rubio would drop out—and “Jeb is running,” according to my well-placed source. (Alert the media!)…

Rubio knows his race will be tough since 2016 is the first time he would face a traditional two-person Senate battle. (His 2010 election was a quirky three-way race.) It has already been reported that Rubio’s most likely and strongest opponent would be Florida Congresswoman and Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Furthermore, in a presidential election year, with Hillary Clinton likely at the top of the ticket, the electorate is going to be very different from the one that gave Rubio 49 percent of the vote in 2010. His Democratic opponent, especially if it is Wasserman Schultz, could easily ride Hillary’s coattails to a Senate victory (or conversely, Rubio could ride Jeb’s). Either way, count on the 2016 Florida race to be the Mother of All Senate Battles.