Marco Rubio Suspends Campaign After Florida Defeat

MIAMI, FL — After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Donald Trump in the Florida Presidential Preference Primary, Sen. Marco Rubio announced the suspension of his campaign Tuesday night.

Rubio garnered only 27.31 percent of the state’s Republican vote in unofficial early election results, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Trump took the state’s 99 delegates in the winner-takes-all race by earning 45.46 percent of the vote.

Rubio went into Tuesday’s race with only 163 delegates to his credit. A total of 1,237 delegates are needed to win the Republican nomination. Trump, the Republican frontrunner heading into Tuesday’s election, had 469 delegates.

Speaking to a crowd gathered in Florida, Rubio announced his campaign for the White House was officially suspended after the loss in his home state.

"After tonight it is clear that while we are on the right side this year that we will not be on the winning side," Rubio said.

Despite the loss, Rubio said he remained optimistic about America and its future. He called for a a "vibrant conservative movement" in the country that is "built on principles. A conservative movement that believes in the principles of our constitution."

Rubio's departure from the race leaves Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in on the Republican side.

Cruz took to the stage in Texas Tuesday night, recognizing Rubio as he did.

"Marco is a friend and a colleague," Cruz said. "He ran a strong, positive campaign. I congratulate Marco and Jeanette on a tremendous campaign they ran together. To those who supported Marco, who worked so hard, we welcome you with open arms."

Cruz went on say there are "only two campaigns that have a plausible path to the nomination, ours and Donald Trump's."

The Texas Senator cast Trump's ability to beat Hillary Clinton in a general election face-off into doubt. "Donald may be the one person on the face of this earth Hillary can beat."

He cast himself as the conservative left in the race by promising to pass a flat tax and abolish the IRS, repeal Obamacare and stop amnesty, if elected.

Whether Rubio's supporters will flock to Cruz's campaign remains to be seen. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is still in the race following his home-state victory Tuesday.

Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr Creative Commons