Earlier this month, Sen. Lindsey Graham became the first ex-2016 presidential candidate to make an endorsement when he announced he was backing the candidacy of Jeb Bush.
This week, two more former candidates made their picks official. First was Rick Perry, who declared on Monday that he would be siding with his fellow Texan, Sen. Ted Cruz:
Citing his record as an Air Force veteran, Mr. Perry said Mr. Cruz was especially able to be a leader of the U.S. military, although he has served less than one term as a U.S. senator and had scant national security experience before his election in 2012.
“Ted has proven that he is ready to serve as commander in chief on day one,” Mr. Perry said. “He has also proven the willingness to take on the Washington cartel and restore power and opportunity back to the people.”
[…]Mr. Perry will campaign with Mr. Cruz in Iowa this week.
Then came George Pataki, who announced Tuesday that he would be supporting Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential bid:
“I am proud to endorse Marco Rubio,” Pataki said today in an interview with Fox News, adding that he believes Rubio is the right person to unite the Republican Party.
“Donald Trump is dividing us,” Pataki said. “Marco Rubio is going to bring us together.”
[…]“He’s provided great leadership. He did it in the state legislature in Florida,” Pataki said about Rubio. “He’s done it in the U.S. Senate, particularly when it comes to rebuilding our military, standing up to radical Islam.”
Will either endorsement have a significant impact? Only time will tell.
Paul Dupont is the managing editor for ThePulse2016.com.
