Rubio rolls out endorsements on eve of Nevada caucus

by Jesse Byrnes - 02/22/16 11:22 AM ET

Marco Rubio is rolling out a series of endorsements in Nevada as he hopes for a boost heading into the state’s Republican presidential caucus on Tuesday.

Within the past 24 hours, the Florida senator’s campaign has announced the backing of Rep. Cresent Hardy, Rep. Mark Amodei and Sen. Dean Heller for his White House bid.

{mosads}With others announced Monday, Rubio holds a clear lead for congressional endorsements over his rivals after the exit of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush from the GOP race on Saturday. But it’s unclear how much weight the backing of establishment figures presents in a year where political outsider candidates such as Donald Trump are seeing the most enthusiasm.

Trump sailed to victory in the South Carolina primary on Saturday with nearly 33 percent support, while Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) took about 22 percent each.

Both Amodei and Heller, who previously backed Bush, and Cresent characterized Rubio in statements and speeches as a unifying force as Republicans weight an alternative to Trump.

Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Paul Anderson, who also previously backed Bush, announced his support of Rubio on Sunday.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) floated on Sunday that Rubio consolidate his support with Ohio Gov. John Kasich to help bring down Trump.

The celebrity businessman solidified his status as the GOP front-runner with wins in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and polls earlier this month showed him ahead in Nevada.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the influential Nevada newspaper owned by GOP mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, also endorsed Rubio this month.

Later Monday, Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), who’s retiring this cycle, endorsed Rubio’s presidential bid and pointed to the GOP hopeful’s foreign policy experience while serving in Congress.

“I have sat literally side-by-side with Marco on the Senate Intelligence Committee for over five years and have witnessed up close his grasp of complex issues and readiness to lead our nation as commander-in-chief,” Coats said in a statement.

Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) also endorsed the Florida senator ahead of Minnesota’s caucus on March 1. He said Rubio is the best candidate to unify the Republican Party and win in the general election.

“Marco understands the American Dream because he has lived it and he knows that for future generations of Americans to have a shot at that dream, we need a new-generation of conservative leadership in Washington. Marco will be that kind of leader and I’m thrilled to be supporting him,” Paulsen said in a statement.

Updated at 8:45 p.m.