ORLANDO, Fla. - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio says he'll cut short a planned bus tour of central Florida to return to Miami to be with his cancer-stricken father.

The 38-year-old former Florida House speaker had announced a four-day, 14-city bus tour this week, hoping to rally his conservative base and try to bolster his lead in the polls over Gov. Charlie Crist.

But the campaign announced Tuesday that Rubio would attend only scheduled events in Orlando and at The Villages on Tuesday, and in Belleview and St. Augustine on Wednesday.

Rubio's 83-year-old father, Mario, was diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago and had surgery. Rubio said Tuesday his father's cancer reocurred and he wants to be in Miami with his father.