Gowdy to endorse Rubio: report

by Bradford Richardson - 12/26/15 3:25 PM ET

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) is expected to endorse Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for president when he campaigns with him in Iowa next week, Townhall.com reported Saturday.

The influential South Carolina lawmaker will attend town hall rallies on Tuesday and Wednesday during Rubio’s three-day tour through the important caucus state, the Rubio campaign said in a press release Saturday.

{mosads}“Marco is a rock solid conservative and a strong leader we can trust,” Gowdy said in an accompanying statement. “I look forward to campaigning in Iowa with him, and introducing my good friend to voters across the state.”

A Rubio campaign aide told CNN that Gowdy will offer Rubio his “full support” but stopped short of saying it will be an official endorsement for president.

Gowdy will make appearances at town halls in Clinton, Sioux City, Pella, North Newton and Boone.

The three-term representative is best known for leading the House investigation into the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazhi, Libya, in which he presided over testimony from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Gowdy introduced Rubio at several events in his home state last weekend, where the Feb. 20 primary will be the first held in a Southern state.

He and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) have also co-hosted town halls in South Carolina that were attended by Republican primary candidates Ben Carson and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Tags Iowa Marco Rubio Trey Gowdy