Rubio Book Says He Almost Quit Race

Sen. Marco Rubio was on the verge of dropping out of the 2010 race for Senate, convinced that then-Gov. Charlie Crist's popularity, power and money would be too much to overcome. He was also afraid any future political ambitions would be crushed by Crist's supporters, Rubio wrote in his autobiography to be released next week.

Rubio said there was a tremendous amount of pressure to quit while he was still far behind in the polls and had little money in the bank, but he became angered by some of the tactics used to try to get him to drop out.

"I crossed the bridge and burned it behind me. There was no way back and no way out but forward," Rubio wrote.

Rubio eventually gained more support and Crist dropped out of the primary. Crist ran as an independent in the general election but lost badly.

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The autobiography, "An American Son," details Rubio's parents' life in Cuba and their early struggles in the United States. It talks about his childhood in Miami, his political career and his rise against the odds to claim a Senate seat.

The 303-page book is scheduled to be released Tuesday. The Associated Press purchased a copy Thursday.

Rubio wrote that when it became clear Crist was going to run for Senate, he considered running for governor. But he was upset with Crist's support of the federal stimulus plan being pushed by President Barack Obama, and the image of Crist hugging the president at a rally to promote the proposal.

He said he complained to his wife that a Republican needed to challenge Crist.

"Then why don't you do it?" Rubio's wife said, he recounted.

"At the time, I was just another Republican who worried about the future of my party and country in private, but refused to risk anything to do something about it," he wrote. "I wanted somebody to take on Crist, but I didn't want to do it myself."