Rubio: I'm Running for Senate Re-election After All

Former Republican Presidential candidate Marco Rubio says he has decided to run for re-election to his U.S. Senate seat from Florida after all.

Rubio Wednesday morning confirmed to Fox News earlier reports by The Washington Post and CNN the he had decided to run.

"I changed my mind," he told Fox News.

Rubio's change of heart comes on the heels of a Quinnipiac University poll showing that he could beat either Democrat in the Senate race.

His move reverses a campaign pledge he made a year ago to either become president or retire from the Senate.  

Rubio is expected to formally announce the decision later Wednesday, the Post says, citing three unnamed sources.

He faced a Friday deadline to file as a candidate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Rubio's run is "a great outcome" that would mean the GOP likely would hang onto the seat. 

McConnell has been leading efforts to persuade Rubio to stay in the Senate instead of retiring, as he had planned.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.