Long-time mayor of Greenville, S.C., Knox White endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio for president at a local rally Friday evening.
“I don’t know anyone who can unite more factions, more people within the Republican Party than Marco Rubio,” White said.
White, the city’s longest-serving mayor, made the announcement before introducing the Florida senator to the audience at the Greenville Downtown Airport. Republican Sen. Tim Scott also attended the rally and delivered opening remarks.
Rubio’s speech celebrated South Carolina’s economic victories, including the statehouse’s accomplishments in shrinking taxes and lowering business regulations.
The first-term senator arrived in the Palmetto State on Wednesday, with just over a week to spend on the campaign trail rallying voters before the Feb. 20 South Carolina primary. Following his fifth-place finish in New Hampshire on Tuesday, he blamed what critics called a robot-like performance in the previous GOP debate and promised supporters he would do better in upcoming debates.
The Episcopalian mayor’s endorsement could assist the Catholic candidate secure more evangelical voters, which one-third of South Carolinians identify as. White has been involved in Republican politics for more than four decades, the last two of which he has served as mayor of the Textile Capital of the World.
Rubio is in third place in South Carolina, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average and is ranked fourth in the Washington Examiner’s presidential power rankings. The senator leads all other GOP candidates with the most endorsements from current congressmen and senators.
He will debate the five other remaining Republican candidates in Greenville on Saturday night. CBS will broadcast the debate from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST.
