MANCHESTER, N.H. — Marco Rubio is cutting short his first day on the trail in South Carolina ahead of the crucial Feb. 20 primary there to return to Washington for legislative business, his presidential campaign announced Tuesday evening.
The Florida senator, who has been criticized by his primary opponents for missing votes to campaign for president, will travel to Capitol Hill after a town hall meeting in Columbia, S.C., to vote on a bill to sanction North Korea over its nuclear program. Rubio has campaigned in South Carolina several times since announcing for president, but Wednesday’s schedule in the state marks his first day there since the conclusion of the New Hampshire campaign.
Ted Cruz will be heading to the Senate for the same vote.
Rubio was in a close battle for third place in the Granite State, according to returns that were still trickling in. It was still possible that he could finish fourth, which would be a major disappointment for his campaign and put more pressure on him to excel in the Palmetto State. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who has endorsed Rubio, will sub in for him at a town hall meeting in Charleston, S.C., that was previously scheduled for Wednesday evening.
