Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Marco Rubio for president early Monday, the day before the Nevada caucuses.
“I think it comes down to this: He’s strong, he’s also informed. He’s conservative and he’s electable and he can unite the party. And you can’t ask for much more than that. I think he’s got the total package,” Pawlenty, who had his own presidential campaign in 2012, said of the Florida senator on CNN’s “New Day” Monday morning.
“I think he’s going bring forward the strongest voice, the strongest image and really the most thoughtful and informed strong view about how to move this country forward from a conservative perspective,” he added.
Pawlenty also dismissed the notion that Rubio is the “establishment” candidate, and described him as someone elected in a Tea Party wave.
“I think that’s a misreading, because Marco Rubio came of age in the Tea Party. He’s a bona fide movement conservative. And to say that he’s ‘establishment’ or somehow not conservative, I just don’t think is accurate. He’s bold, he’s next generation, and he’s reform-minded, change-oriented,” Pawlenty said.
Pawlenty, who dropped out of the 2012 presidential race in August 2011 and eventually endorsed Mitt Romney’s campaign, argued that Rubio is a better candidate than the front-runner, Donald Trump.
“I think what people want in Donald Trump is strength, and in Marco Rubio you get that same strength, but it’s an informed strength. And I think that’s really important, particularly when you get to issues like national security and defense issues and foreign affairs,” Pawlenty explained.
In addition to Nevada’s caucuses on Tuesday, Minnesota’s are slated for March 1.
