U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey endorses U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio for president
Saying that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has “very broad appeal” and understands national security issues, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey endorsed the Florida lawmaker for president Wednesday.
Rubio is coming off a surprising showing in the Iowa caucuses where he finished third with 23 percent and seven delegates, but very close to supposed front-runner Donald Trump, who came in second with 24 percent. Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz won Iowa with 28 percent.
The endorsement comes amid reports that GOP officials are worried that Trump or Cruz at the top of the GOP ticket would hurt Toomey’s re-election chances.
On a conference call with state reporters Wednesday, Toomey, of Lehigh County, deflected a question on that, instead saying there was no way to determine how the eventual nominee would affect down ballot races and his focus was on “who’s going to be a great president.”
Shortly before the conference call, Toomey announced his decision on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” where he said Rubio would be the strongest candidate to take on Hillary Clinton if she wins the Democratic nomination.
Rubio, Toomey said, can unite the Republican Party and do well across the nation and in Pennsylvania.