Jeb Bush Endorses Marco Rubio for Florida Senate

From AP :

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is endorsing Marco Rubio's campaign for U.S. Senate.

Bush, still popular and influential with Florida Republicans, has long been rumored to be a Rubio backer, but his endorsement comes less than a week after Gov. Charlie crist decided to run as an independent rather than face Rubio in the GOP primary.

Bush says Rubio is a passionate, principled leader who wouldn't change his views when political winds shift.

The Rubio campaign released the following soon after the announcement:

Miami, FL – Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush today endorsed Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. The two will campaign together for the first time this Friday night at the Pasco County Reagan Day Dinner.

“Washington is broken, and Marco Rubio is the only candidate in this race that I trust to help fix it,” said Bush. “He is a bright, passionate and principled leader who approaches public service with a servant’s heart and a reformer’s detail for policy. Reforming Washington will not be easy and will require leaders who stay true to their principles even when the odds are stacked against them. The last thing the Senate needs is another politician who has to take a poll to make a decision.

“With Marco, what you see is what you get. You can trust him to look you in the eye and tell you where he stands. And most of all, you can trust that his principles will not change every time the political winds shift direction.
“This White House and this Congress are taking our nation in the wrong direction. I hope all Floridians will ask themselves whether they want their next Senator to be a rubber stamp for the Obama agenda, or to stand up to it and offer a clear conservative alternative. I am proud to endorse Marco Rubio for Senate and pledge to do everything I can to make sure he is elected this November,” Bush concluded.
Welcoming Bush’s endorsement, Rubio said, “Governor Bush’s passion for public service, policy-making and his courage to proudly stand for deeply held principles were an inspiration to me during my years in Tallahassee and have continued guiding me in this race since I launched my campaign a year ago today. For six years, I had the privilege of working hand and hand with Governor Bush to advance an agenda of bold ideas that reformed Florida’s tax system, brought greater accountability and choice to our schools, and promoted free enterprise. I am humbled and honored to have earned his support in this race.

“The positive impact of Governor Bush’s service to Florida is immeasurable, as is his impact on my own life and career. Jeb’s idea-driven, reform-based approach to governing will continue serving as a model for me when I arrive in Washington and get to work on policy-making that revitalizes our limited government, free market economy. He is someone who has demonstrated how leaders can work across the aisle and get things done without sacrificing their core principles. I am proud to have Jeb on our team and look forward to counting on his support and counsel through November and beyond,” concluded Rubio.