Gardner first senator to endorse Rubio

By Al Weaver, Al Weaver

Published December 20, 2015

After a widely praised debate performance, Marco Rubio picked up his first endorsement from a Senate colleague when he won the backing of Colorado Republican Cory Gardner.

In an interview with "Fox News Monday," Gardner made his endorsement of the Florida senator official, telling host Jenna Lee that Rubio gives the nation its "greatest possibilities and opportunities" to advance the next generation forward.

"Today, I am proud to announce my endorsement of Marco Rubio to be the next president of the United States," Gardner told the host. "Our country needs a new generation of leadership, and I believe Marco Rubio presents this nation with the greatest possibilities and opportunities to meet the challenges of the next generation."

"After the debate in Colorado, I thought Marco did an excellent job of framing what I believe to be what Colorado and this country wants — somebody that we can be excited about," Gardner said of Rubio, who now tops the Washington Examiner's latest power rankings. "Somebody who is looking forward toward the future, not looking back at the past. Somebody that understands we're always looking at the next horizon, and not trying to go backwards in polices that have failed."