Just one day before Tennesseans head to the polls to join several other states in casting ballots as part of “Super Tuesday” for the Presidential preference primary, U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, M.D., announced his endorsement of Sen. Marco Rubio for the Republican nomination and compared him to former President Ronald Reagan.
“When I think about this election, I’m reminded of how the generations before us chose leaders of optimism and strength at critical moments in our history,” said Roe, who represents Tennessee’s First Congressional District. “Today we face a critical moment, and we have to decide what kind of country we want to leave our children and grandchildren.”
“I believe we’re lucky to have a next generation leader like Marco Rubio working to inspire and unite our people the way Ronald Reagan once did,” Roe added. “I believe our Party would be remiss to pass up this opportunity to build a brighter, more conservative future for America. Marco’s innovative vision will extend the American experiment into a new century and restore opportunity to the greatest nation on earth.”
On Friday, Roe said he did not plan to make any official endorsement of a candidate, but did say he personally supported Rubio and had voted for him.
Over the weekend, Roe said he had a change of heart regarding the endorsement after having the opportunity to return home to East Tennessee and spend time talking with his friends and neighbors.
“This election is one we absolutely cannot afford to lose,” Roe said. “It became increasingly clear that Marco Rubio is the candidate best able to unite the party and defeat either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in November.”
Rubio has garnered support from several Tennessee’s current and former elected leaders.
On Thursday of last week, Tennesse Governor Bill Haslam announced his endorsement of Rubio.
“To win in November, conservatives need a candidate who inspires Americans from all backgrounds,” Haslam said in his endorsement. “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.”
“Marco has the innovative policy agenda to reclaim the American Dream for all our people, and his conservative ideas will bring the Republican Party — and America — into the future,” the Governor added.
Joining Haslam in announcing public support for Rubio on Thursday was Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, (R-Tenn).
Frist had previously supported former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who pulled out of the election following disappointing results in the South Carolina primary.
In a statement announcing his endorsement of Ruibo, Frist said he feels the Senator from Florida is ready to be the nation’s commander-in-chief.
“Marco also understands that it takes more than angry rhetoric to be an effective candidate for president,” Frist said. “If the Republican Party wants to win back the White House, we need a candidate like Marco Rubio that can appeal to all types of voters.”
“This is an important election with too much at stake to nominate somebody that cannot win the general election,” Frist added. “If we nominate Marco Rubio, we will win in November and get America back on the right track.”
On Sunday, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, who previously said he did not plan to make any official endorsement, announced he was officially coming out in support of Rubio as the Republican nominee for president.
In a statement issued on Sunday regarding the endorsement, Alexander pointed to the next president’s responsibility to appoint U.S. Supreme Court justices and warned what could happen if Democratic front-runner Hiller Clinton were to win in November.
“Marco Rubio is the conservative candidate who can inspire us, win the election, and lead our country,” Alexander said. “The stakes are high. If our nominee does not win, Hillary Clinton’s justices will control the Supreme Court for 30 years and we’ll be stuck with Obamacare forever.”
“I have watched Marco up close. I have seen him take the lead in passing new laws to impose tough new sanctions on Hezbollah terrorists, and to get rid of incompetent managers who weren’t doing their jobs to help veterans,” Alexander added. “He has proposed good new ideas for giving students more options for college. I am convinced he would be a strong and effective president of the United States.”