After brutal name calling and low blows, it appears Marco Rubio and Donald Trump have called a truce, of sorts. 
 
 Rubio recently came to Trump's defense on Twitter, saying the protesters at Trump's rallies are "professional" and not violent, as he claims the media puts it. And now, Trump, who once said Rubio couldn't get elected "dogcatcher" in Florida, is urging the former presidential candidate to run for reelection there. 
 
 Poll data shows that @marcorubio does by far the best in holding onto his Senate seat in Florida. Important to keep the MAJORITY. Run Marco! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2016 
 
 Rubio on CNN Thursday afternoon said he wants “to be helpful” to the GOP presumptive nominee, and will release his delegates to vote for Trump. Rubio also said he would be willing to speak on Trump’s behalf, adding that his political aspirations aren't over, calling it a "safe assumption" that he'll run for office -- the presidency or something else -- again. 
 
 This Rubio senate push feels like it's been orchestrated. Trump didn't just tweet about this out of thin air. — Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) May 27, 2016 

 Two weeks ago, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) fielded a question from a Capitol Hill reporter who asked whether he might change his mind about retiring at the end of the year. The far-right senator demurred, but noted that the filing deadline in Florida isn’t until June 24 – a date he’d apparently memorized 
 
 His staff insisted soon after that Rubio was only kidding. As of yesterday, that seems far less certain. 
 
 Facing the very real possibility that Republicans may lose Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat, an organized effort is underway to convince Rubio to break his word, go back on his promise, and seek a second term after assuring voters he wouldn’t. GOP senators are reportedly leaning heavily on Rubio, and even Donald Trump has joined the lobbying campaign. 
 
 Ten days ago, facing media speculation about his future, Rubio sounded annoyed. “I have only said like 10,000 times I will be a private citizen in January,” the senator said on Twitter. Yesterday, however, instead of sticking to his position, the Floridian seemed to open the door a crack. Bloomberg Politics reported 
 
 Now, Rubio – who said he would not stand for Senate re-election when he announced his failed presidential bid – said it is “unlikely” he will change his mind before the Florida filing deadline on June 24. The state’s primary will be held Aug. 30. “This is just something that happened today or what have you. For me, I need time to even talk to anybody about it, but my sense of it is nothing has changed in my thinking,” he told reporters at the Capitol. 
 
 That may not sound like much of a shift, but let’s not overlook recent history. Rubio, in a rare display of integrity, publicly promised when launching his presidential campaign that it was White House or bust. After his candidacy failed, the Republican repeatedly said, in no uncertain terms , that he’s looking forward to being a private citizen in the new year. Rubio became irritated by any suggestions to the contrary. 
 
 And yet, yesterday, his answer to the same question was far from categorical, which as he must have realized, renewed speculation about whether the Florida senator is willing to break his promise. 
 
 Complicating matters, this was arguably the second most controversial thing Rubio said yesterday. This Washington Post report was almost hard to believe. 
 
 Reversing months of comments to the contrary, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) now says he plans to attend the Republican National Convention and will release his delegates to vote for the presumed party nominee, Donald Trump. Rubio once warned that nominating Trump would “fracture the Republican Party” and faulted the business magnate for stoking violence at his rallies. But in a CNN interview on Thursday, Rubio said he’s attending the GOP convention in Cleveland because “I want to be helpful. I don’t want to be harmful, because I don’t want Hillary Clinton to be president.” 
 
 Rubio added that he’d “certainly be honored” to help defeat the Democratic ticket. 
 
 In case anyone’s forgotten, during the primaries, Rubio referred to Trump as a “lunatic” and a “con man.” His campaign, quite literally, sold #NeverTrump swag on its website. The Florida senator told audiences that Trump might urinate on himself, mocked Trump’s hair and face, and even made vulgar jokes about Trump’s genitals. 
 
 As recently as two weeks ago, Rubio said he stood by his earlier comments that Trump cannot be trusted with the nation’s nuclear codes 
 
 But as of yesterday, the senator is eager to do his part to make Donald Trump the leader of the free world. 

 Washington (CNN) Marco Rubio said he would consider running for re-election to the Senate if Florida's lieutenant governor, a close friend of his, had not entered the race to succeed him. 
 
 Rubio, who said last year while he was running for president that he would not seek re-election, offered a new window into his thinking in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper set to air Sunday on "State of the Union." 
 
 Rubio speaks to an aide on Capitol Hill as he arrives for the weekly Senate Republican Policy Committee luncheon in September 2013. 
 
 Rubio speaks to an aide on Capitol Hill as he arrives for the weekly Senate Republican Policy Committee luncheon in September 2013. 
 
 Rubio returns to the Capitol after meeting with Obama and other Republican leaders about the government shutdown in October 2013. 
 
 Rubio returns to the Capitol after meeting with Obama and other Republican leaders about the government shutdown in October 2013. 
 
 Rubio, center, speaks to members of the media as Sen. Ron Johnson, left, and Rep. Ron DeSantis listen during a news conference on Capitol Hill in October 2013. 
 
 Rubio, center, speaks to members of the media as Sen. Ron Johnson, left, and Rep. Ron DeSantis listen during a news conference on Capitol Hill in October 2013. 
 
 Rubio confers with McCain as U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in October 2013. 
 
 Rubio confers with McCain as U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in October 2013. 
 
 Rubio speaks in November 2013 during a campaign stop for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia. 
 
 Rubio speaks in November 2013 during a campaign stop for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia. 
 
 From left, Sens. Cory Booker, Rubio, Kristen Gillibrand and John McCain wait for Obama to deliver the State of the Union address in January 2014. 
 
 From left, Sens. Cory Booker, Rubio, Kristen Gillibrand and John McCain wait for Obama to deliver the State of the Union address in January 2014. 
 
 Rubio, left, is greeted as he arrives at a restaurant in Doral in February 2014. 
 
 Rubio, left, is greeted as he arrives at a restaurant in Doral in February 2014. 
 
 Rubio checks his phone in March as he arrives for a Capitol Hill news conference to introduce a proposal for an overhaul of the tax code. 
 
 Rubio checks his phone in March as he arrives for a Capitol Hill news conference to introduce a proposal for an overhaul of the tax code. 
 
 Rubio speaks to the media in front of a wall dedicated to the victims of the violence in Venezuela as he shows support for the Venezuelan community at a restaurant in Doral, Florida, in April 2014. 
 
 Rubio speaks to the media in front of a wall dedicated to the victims of the violence in Venezuela as he shows support for the Venezuelan community at a restaurant in Doral, Florida, in April 2014. 
 
 Rubio talks to aides in December before speaking on President Barack Obama's announcement about revising policies on U.S.-Cuba relations. 
 
 Rubio talks to aides in December before speaking on President Barack Obama's announcement about revising policies on U.S.-Cuba relations. 
 
 Rubio speaks with the media after delivering remarks during the graduation of small business owners from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program held in Miami in February. 
 
 Rubio speaks with the media after delivering remarks during the graduation of small business owners from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program held in Miami in February. 
 
 Rubio, center, arrives in the House chamber ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in March. 
 
 Rubio, center, arrives in the House chamber ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in March. 
 
 Sen. Mike Lee, left, and Rubio talk before a news conference to introduce their proposal for an overhaul of the tax code in March. 
 
 Sen. Mike Lee, left, and Rubio talk before a news conference to introduce their proposal for an overhaul of the tax code in March. 
 
 Florida Sen. Marco Rubio speaks in October 2013 at the Values Voter Summit, held by the Family Research Council in Washington. 
 
 Florida Sen. Marco Rubio speaks in October 2013 at the Values Voter Summit, held by the Family Research Council in Washington. 
 
 Tapper asked the incumbent if he would run again had the state's no. 2 and close friend, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, not run in his place. 
 
 "Maybe," Rubio replied. 
 
 "Look, I have a real good friend I've known for a long time who I was running for the Senate with. I didn't run. I said I wasn't going to. He got into the race," Rubio said. "I think he's put in time and energy to it and he deserves the chance to see where he can take it." 
 
 JUST WATCHED Marco Rubio vows to help Trump beat Clinton Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Marco Rubio vows to help Trump beat Clinton 00:51 
 
 Later Friday, a spokeswoman for Lopez-Cantera, Courtney Alexander, said the lieutenant governor wasn't stepping aside. 
 
 "It looks like the press needs a narrative going into Memorial Day weekend," Alexander said. "Carlos Lopez-Cantera is focused on winning this Senate seat, and Senator Rubio has been supportive of Lopez-Cantera's candidacy. I'll let that speak for itself." 
 
 Chris Hartline, spokesman for businessman Carlos Beruff, who is also seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate seat, said his boss wouldn't drop out it Rubio jumped in. 
 
 "Carlos Beruff is staying in this race. Marco Rubio made the right decision in 2010 when he refused to get pushed out of the race by the power brokers in Washington," Hartline said. "As usual, Washington Republicans think they can control the race, but the voters of Florida will decide who our nominee is, and we feel confident about where we are." 
 
 Rubio is under increasing pressure -- from prominent senators as well the party's presumptive presidential nominee -- to run again for his Florida Senate seat, rather than leaving the seat open to a possible Democratic pick-up in November. On Thursday night, Donald Trump -- who fought bitterly with Rubio during the presidential primaries -- tweeted that Rubio should seek re-election. 
 
 "Poll data shows that @marcorubio does by far the best in holding onto his Senate seat in Florida. Important to keep the MAJORITY. Run Marco!" Trump tweeted 
 
 Poll data shows that @marcorubio does by far the best in holding onto his Senate seat in Florida. Important to keep the MAJORITY. Run Marco! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2016 
 
 The former presidential candidate also said he was frustrated with reporting that emerged during the presidential race that he "hated" the Senate. Rubio said he did not. 
 
 "If my term had ended in 2018 instead of 2016, I might very well have run for re-election," he said. 
 
 Republicans face a steep challenge this fall to hold on to control of the Senate, and Florida's Senate seat currently held by Rubio is one of several battleground state where Democrats see an opportunity for a pickup. 
 
 On Sunday morning the Democratic National Committee released a new video using Rubio's comments on "State of the Union" to mock the Florida senator's reversal on Trump. 
 
 The video strings together clips of Rubio calling Trump a "con artist," not ready to be commander-in-chief, with a 40-year record of "sticking it to the little guy." It then shows Rubio telling Tapper that he would "most certainly be honored to be considered" for a speaking slot on Trump's behalf at the Republican convention. 
 
 On Friday, the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC allied with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said in a statement that it would support Rubio if he decides to run. 
 
 "We felt confident about betting on Rubio back in 2010 and would do it again in a heartbeat, but right now it's hard to imagine making that same investment without him as our candidate," said Steven Law, the head of the group. 

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– You know what they say, bros before strategically important Senate seats. Marco Rubio tells CNN he'd consider running for reelection to the Senate if only his "real good friend" Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera wasn't already running for the seat. "I think he's put in time and energy to it, and he deserves the chance to see where he can take it," Rubio says. Since launching his failed presidential bid, Rubio has said he wouldn't be running for reelection to the Florida seat. “I have only said like 10,000 times I will be a private citizen in January," he tweeted recently. But MSNBC reports Republicans have started an "organized effort" to get him to change his mind. Republican senators—and even Donald Trump—are pressuring Rubio to run, fearing that without him a Democratic candidate could win the seat. “Poll data shows that Marco Rubio does by far the best in holding onto his senate seat in Florida. Important to keep the majority. Run, Marco!” Trump tweeted. This coming from a man who, NBC News reports, once said Rubio couldn't get elected dogcatcher in Florida. Rubio has until June 24 to change his mind and file for reelection. Rubio does say he plans to run for something again in the future, either the presidency or another office.