Just ahead of the Mississippi primary, Republican Governor Phil Bryant announced his endorsement of Texas Senator Ted Cruz for the GOP nomination for president.
“I’m not going to get out and make a big show about it, but Sen. Cruz was in town today, and I met with him and gave him my endorsement,” Bryant said according to The Clarion-Ledger.
The state holds its GOP primary on Tuesday, March 8.
“It was a hard choice — I know so many of them,” Bryant continued, “Chris Christie, I know Jeb Bush, I know the ones still running now. They are good people … But I am also looking toward November and I think if Ted Cruz is nominated, he has a good opportunity to defeat the Democratic nominee.”
The two-term governor also said that his close friendship with former Texas Governor Rick Perry factored into his endorsement. Bryant added that he spent some time with Cruz during a visit at the Heritage Foundation late last year and came away impressed.
Bryant also had a few words to say about Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
“I like Marco Rubio,” the governor said. “I think he’s true at heart. I just had to make the decision on who I think has the best chance to win in November and who I liked best as a candidate and as a person. Ted Cruz has gone to Washington and showed courage and grit to stand up to things he disagrees with.”
“I am honored to have the support of Governor Bryant, who is committed to uniting conservatives across his state and the nation behind my campaign,” Cruz told POLITICO. “The people of Mississippi are fed up with the dysfunction in Washington and know this is the time for courageous conservatives to unite.”
Recent polls finds New York businessman Donald Trump leading Cruz in the Magnolia State.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com
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