Do you imagine he's in the same position in Florida as he was when he was just a random state legislature? His profile is easily ahead of Rubio now and he could easily challenge him in a primary is he chose to.
I'm the kind of person who never believed he was a real threat nationally, but in Florida he still wields a lot of influence and power, especially within the state party.
I think his profile is worse off now that he's got loser stink on him. I'm not sure he could actually beat Rubio in a match up given Rubio won by nearly the same amount he did state wide in 2022.