Former Rep. Allen West open to Senate primary challenge against Rubio

Former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said Wednesday that he may mount a primary challenge to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in their state’s 2016 Senate primary.

West told station WMAL that he could run for Senate, “If I see people that are not taking our country down the right path, if I see people that are not standing up for the right type of principles and putting their own party politics before what is best for the United States of America.”

Asked directly if he would rule out challenging Rubio, West responded, “Chirping… chirping… chirping.”

{mosads}”We’ll see what happens down the pike,” he added. “God will set my feet on the right path.”

The one-term congressman, who narrowly lost reelection last year, acknowledged he would face an uphill battle.

“That’s a pretty heavy lift, because you’re talking about running against a sitting senator, and then of course, that creates that schism that the other side would love to see happen,” said West.

But the former congressman said he had a “lot of concerns” over the comprehensive immigration reform proposal crafted by a bipartisan group — including Rubio — in the Senate.

“This whole ‘comprehensive’ thing – I think the bill now is up to 1,075 pages – once again, the American people don’t trust that,” West said.

Rubio, a Tea Party favorite, is seen as crucial to winning conservative support for the immigration bill. But the Florida senator has suggested he may oppose the measure he helped write unless tougher border security requirements are adopted.

West has said he has no plans to run for the House of Representatives again in 2014.