MANCHESTER, N.H. — Susan Duprey, one of New Hampshire’s leading Republican activists and the former chief of staff to Ann Romney, announced her endorsement of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio Wednesday.
Duprey traveled alongside Mrs. Romney during the 2012 election when her husband, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, was the Republican nominee, and has previously worked on the presidential campaigns of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and President George W. Bush.
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“Having worked for the previous four Republican nominees for President, I know what it takes to not only win the Republican primary, but also to take on the Democratic Party machine and win the general election,” Duprey said in a statement.
“Only one candidate meets that standard and that is Marco Rubio,” she added. “His knowledge on the issues, experience, and ability to connect to the citizens of this country make him the most powerful contender against the Democrats.”
According to Duprey, following the Florida senator’s strong third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, “it has become abundantly clear that Marco Rubio is the best candidate for [the Republican] party.”
“I’m thrilled to throw my support behind Marco,” she said.
Duprey’s endorsement comes as Rubio makes his way across New Hampshire in the final week before the state’s Feb. 9 primary. At several campaign stops Wednesday, the 44-year-old senator kept his message focused on policy and his Democratic opponents, while declining to take jabs at his closest rivals, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and billionaire Donald Trump.
Rubio also received the coveted endorsement of South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott earlier this week and is slated to receive Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey’s public backing on Wednesday.
Rubio is currently in second place in the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings.
