The party's Senate committee this week abandoned Rubio's Democratic rival, Rep. Patrick Murphy, yanking advertising off the expensive airwaves of the Sunshine State and sending the money to competitive races in smaller states where fundraising dollars go farther.
The decision leaves Murphy, who's raised only about one-third as much as Rubio in recent months, largely on his own.
[...] it has prompted a round of second-guessing from Democrats who argue that Rubio is beatable, and that the party should not be helping him win a second term that could provide a perch for another presidential bid.
Senate polls in the state have tightened in recent weeks, and there are signs that Florida Republicans aren't as enthusiastic to vote this year with Donald Trump as their presidential nominee.
[...] with Trump dragging down Republican candidates across the country, some here see a potential path to victory not just for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, but also for Murphy, a second-term congressman with low name recognition.
Murphy is getting some help on the ground from the Clinton campaign, which just announced it is spending an additional $6 million on mail and digital advertising to get out the vote in Florida and six other states with competitive down-ballot races.
Priorities USA, a cash-rich super PAC backing Clinton, on Tuesday announced plans to help Democrats in close Senate races as Clinton's team feels increasingly confident about her chances on Election Day.
