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Senator Marco Rubio Says He Is Still Voting For Trump

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -- Florida Senator Marco Rubio says he will still stand by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump amid controversy over predatory sexual remarks about women.

On Tuesday, the Republican senator who ran against Trump to be the GOP nominee, released a statement on the matter to CBS4's Jim DeFede saying:

"I ran against Donald Trump. And while I respect that voters chose him as the GOP nominee, I have never hesitated to oppose his policies I disagree with. And I have consistently rejected his offensive rhetoric and behavior. I disagree with him on many things, but I disagree with his opponent on virtually everything. I wish we had better choices for president. But I do not want Hillary Clinton to be our next president. And therefore my position has not changed."

Rubio's response comes a day after Speaker Paul Ryan told Republicans he will not campaign for or defend Donald Trump in the last weeks before election day.

Indeed, Ryan said he would devote his energy to ensuring Clinton doesn't get a "blank check" as president with a Democratic-controlled Congress, according to people on his private conference call with GOP House members. While the Wisconsin Republican did not formally rescind his own tepid endorsement of Trump, he told lawmakers they were free to do just that and fight for their own re-election.

Ryan's announcement underscored the perilous predicament Republicans find themselves in one month from Election Day. Recent revelations of Trump's predatory sexual comments about women deepened the worries among GOP officials who fear he'll drag down their own electoral prospects in November. But others look at Trump's loyal bands of supporters and see no way for Republicans in other races to win without their support.

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(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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