Marco Rubio denies report of imminent Mitt Romney endorsement
Hot off a second-place finish in South Carolina, it looks like Marco Rubio’s campaign is beginning to regain some of the momentum it lost in New Hampshire. But the Republican establishment wagons haven’t completely circled — at least not yet.
Rubio denied a report Sunday that former Massachusetts governor and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney will endorse the Florida senator for the party’s nomination.
“Well, that report is false,’’ Rubio told CNN on Sunday, hours after the report was published.
“I have no reason to believe that he’s anywhere near endorsing anyone,’’ Rubio said. “We would love to have his endorsement. We would love to have the help of everyone, because we have got to bring the Republican Party together.’’
Citing two unnamed Republican sources Sunday morning, The Huffington Post reported the imminent Romney endorsement, but said the details were “still being worked out.’’ From their report:
The sources said that the former Massachusetts governor had been eager to provide his backing to Rubio for days but had hesitated, due to his respect for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who suspended his campaign on Saturday night following his dismal fourth-place showing in the South Carolina primary.
Romney spent the day in Utah on Saturday and could potentially be in position to bestow his blessing upon Rubio before Tuesday’s Nevada Republican caucuses—a contest that Romney won easily in both 2008 and 2012.
However, sources associated with both men also shot down the report, per The Boston Globe’s Matt Viser.
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The endorsement would be as opportune for Rubio as it would be logical for Romney. The former governor has repeatedlybuttedheads with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Romney’s relationship with conservative candidate Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has also been somewhat tenuous.
Meanwhile, Rubio — one of two remaining estbalishment candidates, along with Ohio Gov. John Kasich — shares plenty of common ground with Romney when it comes to policy. As a 2012 presidential candidate, Romney considered Rubio for his vice presidential pick.
And as The Huffington Post noted, Rubio — as well as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — spent a night over at the Romneys’ Wolfeboro, New Hampshire summer house last July, staying up late chatting with the two-time presidential candidate, according to Ann Romney.
Back in June, Romney did outline a situation in which he would endorse before the party picked a nominee.
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“There’s a possibility that there might be someone who emerges that is strong, that I happen to agree with on a whole host of issues. And then someone else comes along who I find not as attractive,’’ Romney said during a Utah retreat. “At that stage, I might jump in and say ‘Hey I’d like to go to work with the one who’s more in tune with the things I believe.’’’
Well, we know there is one candidate he does not find particularly attractive.
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