Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran endorsed Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign.
“Jeb Bush is the proven leader the American people need as we face grave threats from abroad and continued economic challenges at home,” Cochran said in a statement shared by the campaign. “Jeb is a serious leader with executive experience and a forward-looking vision. He offers real solutions to lead our nation, to return more power to the states and to keep us secure. I’m confident Jeb Bush will make America strong and safe and free again. I am proud to support Jeb Bush for president.”
Cochran, who turned 78 on Monday, overcame a tough primary challenger, Chris McDaniel, to win re-election in 2014. McDaniel has endorsed Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign.
The senior senator from Mississippi becomes the 30th member of Congress to endorse Bush and the fourth senator. Other senators to endorse Bush, include Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Dean Heller of Nevada, and Susan Collins of Maine. Bush also enjoys the support of former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson, age 84.
But the endorsements do not seem to have had much of any positive effect on his poll numbers. The former governor ranks below four percentage points nationally in RealClearPolitics’ average of national polls. Bush, who ranks fifth in the Washington Examiner‘s newest GOP presidential power rankings, continued to campaign in New Hampshire on Tuesday where he attended an AARP-sponsored Social Security summit.
