Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday endorsed Marco Rubio for the Republican presidential nomination, hoping to give Florida senator a boost in the state’s Super Tuesday primary next week.
Haslam, a popular second-term governor, said he decided to endorse Rubio because he thinks he would have the best chance to beat the Democratic nominee in the general election.
“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.”
Tennessee is among 11 states holding their Republican presidential primaries on Tuesday, when the biggest single-day haul of delegates of the campaign will be up for grabs.
Tennessee’s 58 delegates are the third-most available on Super Tuesday after Texas and Georgia. Candidates must earn at least 20 percent of the vote to earn a proportional share.
Haslam’s endorsement comes two days after the end of Tennessee’s early voting period that saw record turnout, with two out of every three ballots being cast on the Republican side.
Haslam was coy when asked by reporter (continue reading at Tennessean)