Marco Rubio backers: Run again

When Marco Rubio dropped out of the GOP race, he made this clear: “I’ll be a private citizen in January.”

But that doesn’t mean he’s done with politics.

In private conversations with supporters and donors over the last several weeks, the 44-year-old Rubio repeatedly gets this advice: Run again, potentially in 2020, according to several people familiar with the conversations.

And Rubio, sources said, is certainly open to it. Some of his allies are even urging Rubio to withhold supporting Ted Cruz because such endorsements have made little difference this campaign season and the two could face off again in a future contest.

Despite his presidential stumbles this year, Rubio plans to be visible during the campaign season for House and Senate candidates, sources said. In particular, Rubio hopes to become a high-profile surrogate for many down-ballot Republicans who may decide to run away from their party’s nominee if it’s either Cruz or Donald Trump, the sources said.