Marco Rubio back to work in the Senate after campaign ends

WASHINGTON, March 17 (UPI) -- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio returned to his day job in Washington on Thursday, two days after suspending his presidential campaign and losing the primary in his home state.

Rubio's staff recorded the Republican lawmaker walking into his office at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill to applause from employees. Rubio's Senate spokesman said his boss participated in a Foreign Relations Committee hearing and will be present for a roll call vote later in the day.

Rubio's attendance record in the Senate was a factor in the campaign, with his GOP opponents pointing out he has the highest number of missed votes of any of the 100 senators. According to GovTrack, Rubio's planned votes on Thursday will be the fourth time he has voted in the Senate this year. Rubio was not present for 34 of the Senate's 37 roll call votes in 2016.

Rubio will leave the Senate at year's end after choosing to run for the Republican presidential nomination, rather than seek a second term in office in Florida.