Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio’s bid for the Republican nomination Thursday as the Florida senator looks to make a move in the state ahead of Super Tuesday.
A popular two-term governor, Haslam said Rubio is a conservative who can win in November, and said in a statement that the Florida senator has the ability to expand the Republican Party.
“To win in November, conservatives need a candidate who inspires Americans from all backgrounds,” Haslam said. “With Marco standing next to Hillary Clinton on a debate stage, the choice between the future and the past will be clear to every American.”
“Marco has the innovative policy agenda to reclaim the American Dream for all our people, and his conservative ideas will bring the Republican Party – and America – into the future,” Haslam said.
Tennessee’s 58 delegates are the third most available in any given state on Super Tuesday, when 11 states vote and 595 delegates are distributed.
Haslam becomes the fourth governor to back Rubio along with Arkansas’ Asa Hutchinson, Kansas’ Sam Brownback and South Carolina’s Nikki Haley, who gave Rubio a much-needed boost ahead of the state’s primary on Saturday.
The endorsement also comes ahead of Thursday’s GOP debate in Houston, where Rubio will face off with Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz among others for the last time before Super Tuesday.
