To hear U.S. Cory Gardner talk about what the Republican Party needed in its presidential candidate, his choice seemed clear for weeks.
But the top Colorado Republican made it official Monday with the endorsement of Marco Rubio, a young rising GOP star, just like Gardner.
“Our country needs a new generation of leadership, and I believe that Marco Rubio presents this nation with the greatest possibilities and opportunities to meet the challenges of the next generation,” Gardner said in a choreographed appearance on Fox News.
Gardner’s endorsement of Rubio for the 2016 GOP nomination makes him the first U.S. senator to pick a favorite — and the campaign’s highest profile backer . It’s also a sign of in the GOP debate in Colorado.
“After , I thought Marco did an excellent job framing what I believe to be what Colorado and this country wants,” Gardner continued. “Somebody they can be excited about. Somebody who is looking forward toward the future, not looking back at the past. Somebody who understands that we’re always looking at the next horizon and not trying to go backwards in policies that have failed. If you look at the policies, the campaigns of the Democrats — Hillary Clinton — they’re just simply trying to argue about how much further left or how further deeper into socialism we can go, and I believe Marco Rubio presents us with the opportunity that Americans can be excited about, and that’s generational opportunity, that generational choice for all of America.”
Gardner made the rounds at the GOP debate in Boulder and refused to answer the question about who he is supporting for president. Even when I suggested his words aligned him with Rubio, he offering his , which managed to get him out of a number of tough questions in in 2014.
In the Fox News interview, Gardner also defended Rubio for missing Senate votes, despite , Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, for not attending ISIS hearings.
“I think if you look at others who have run for president, this seems to be a double standard that’s taking place right now,” Gardner said. “Sen. Rubio pointed that out on the debate stage, but also look at what now-president Obama performed in the Senate in terms of his attendance. The bottom line is a record of ideas. The bottom line is a plan for how to get this country back on track. It’s not about attendance — it’s about goals and opportunity to move this nation forward.”
