Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio less than three weeks before the Kansas Republican presidential caucus.
Brownback called Rubio “a true conservative who can unite the party.” Brownback’s son-in-law also works for the Rubio campaign.
Patrick Miller, a University of Kansas political science professor, says Brownback holds some sway with evangelical voters, and that could give Rubio a boost in a divided Republican field.
"Even if Brownback is not sky-high popular, his endorsement can still net Rubio a couple percent that could help him squeak past some other candidate," Miller says. "[Rubio] does not traditionally have very strong ties to evangelical Christians."
Miller says Donald Trump may appeal to voters aligned with the tea party. The fates of Jeb Bush, John Kasich or Ben Carson may depend on how they’re doing nationally as the March 5 Kansas caucus gets closer.