Photo: AP

Marco Rubio, who swore up and down he was done with the Senate, is now running for reelection, using the excuse that he was called into action by the Orlando Pulse attack. That’s a lie, and it’s a deeply cynical lie.

So why would the man who does not like being a senator and tweeted in May, “I have only said like 10000 times I will be a private citizen in January,” seek re-election? As the National Review points out, the Republican leadership desperately needs him to stay in office to maintain a Senate majority.

Rubio, who said when he announced his presidential bid in April that he would not seek reelection, had a change of heart following an aggressive push led by National Republican Senatorial Committee executive director Ward Baker, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and his allies, and a bevy of Florida politicos. All expressed concern about losing the seat to Democrats in an election year likely to prove difficult for Republicans across the board, one in which they have grown increasingly worried about keeping their Senate majority.

But that’s not what Rubio, who cited the Orlando attacks as part of his decision to run, has been saying.

“Obviously, I take very seriously everything that’s going on—not just Orlando, but in our country,” Rubio said last week. “I enjoy my service here a lot. So I’ll go home later this week, and I’ll have some time with my family, and then if there’s been a change in our status I’ll be sure to let everyone know.”

Rubio certainly wanted it to look like his decision was a noble call to action. To that end, he reportedly spent the last week lobbying other politicians to issue statements urging him to run, “so it’s not just Mitch [McConnell].” Ted Cruz, Washingtonian reports, declined Tuesday because he “didn’t want to be accused of nudging out US Representative Ron DeSantis, the tea-party favorite in the race for Rubio’s seat.”

Aides tell the paper Rubio also approached Utah Senator Mike Lee, who declined for similar reasons.

Still, Cruz endorsed him once he announced.

“Marco is a friend and has been an ally in many battles we have fought together in the Senate,” Cruz said in a statement Wednesday. “I’m glad to support him in his bid for re-election.”

It’s almost like you can’t believe a word any of these men are saying!