On the trail, Rubio has missed the most votes of any senator

WASHINGTON Congress faces critical decisions this fall on legislation to keep the government open after Oct. 1, a deadline to raise the debt ceiling and a longoverdue highway bill.

What’s not clear is whether Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will participate in the debates and votes that will determine the fate of those issues.

Rubio, a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, has missed 77 of 263 roll call votes this year, through Wednesday, an absentee rate of nearly 30%. That’s more than any other senator, according to a USA TODAY review of votes cast through Wednesday.

Since June 1, the first-term senator has been absent for 60% of votes, as he’s stepped up his appearances at campaign events and fundraisers. He’s skipped votes on amendments to a massive education bill, changes to defense policy legislation and a short-term extension of the federal Highway Trust Fund.

The second- and third-ranking senators on the absentee list are GOP presidential candidates as well. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has missed 62 votes this year (24%), and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has missed 59 votes (22%), according to the review.

The two other senators running for president rarely miss votes. Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont — running for the Democratic nomination — has missed nine votes (3%), while Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has missed only three (1%).

Aides to Rubio, who campaigned in the key early primary state of New Hampshire this week, say it’s not unusual for senators seeking the White House to spend significant time away from their day jobs starting the year prior to the election.

They cite the cases of three former Democratic senators — Hillary Clinton (who missed 23% of votes in 2007), Barack Obama (who missed 38% in 2007), and John Kerry (who missed 62% in 2003).

Rubio spokesman Alex Conant said campaigning for the nation’s highest office is time-consuming. But that doesn’t mean Rubio is shirking his duties, Conant said.

“He has returned to the Senate whenever his vote would be decisive,” Conant said.