Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has endorsed Florida Senator Marco Rubio less than three weeks before the Kansas Republican presidential caucus. Brownback called Rubio “a true conservative who can unite the party.” Brownback’s son-in-law also works for the Rubio campaign.
University of Kansas Political Science Professor Patrick Miller says Brownback holds some sway with evangelical voters, and that could give Rubio a boost in a divided Republican field.
“Even if Brownback is not sky-high popular, if his endorsement can still net Rubio a couple percent that could help him squeak past some other candidate,” says Miller.
Miller says Donald Trump may appeal to voters aligned with the tea party. The fates of Jeb Bush, John Kasich or Ben Carson may depend on how they’re doing nationally as the March 5th Kansas caucus gets closer.
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Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has endorsed Florida Senator Marco Rubio in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports, Kansas Republicans will pick presidential candidates in the Match 5th caucus.
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In a statement, Brownback called Rubio a “true conservative who can unite the party.”
University of Kansas Political Science Professor Patrick Miller says evangelical voters are a force in the Kansas Republican caucus and Senator Ted Cruz might seem like a natural choice for them. But Miller says Governor Brownback's endorsement might shake up the race and give Rubio a boost.
“He does not traditionally have very strong ties to evangelical Christians. If the Brownback endorsement can help him even just a little bit, that could matter in such a divided field like this,” says Miller.
The governor's son-in-law also works for the Rubio campaign in faith outreach.
Miller says Donald Trump may appeal to more tea party-aligned voters in Kansas. The fates of candidates like Jeb Bush, John Kasich or Ben Carson may depend on how well they’re doing nationally when the Kansas Republican caucus is held, on the first Saturday in March.