Rubio Adds Support Ahead of Texas Primary

One day before the Texas primary, Marco Rubio's presidential campaign is unveiling new support in the state.

Rubio's campaign is launching a coalition of veterans in Texas and revealing the backing of almost two dozen prominent Texas Republicans. Rubio, the U.S. senator from Florida, is among the candidates hoping to pick off some delegates on Ted Cruz's home turf in the state's Republican primary.

Rubio's list of new endorsements includes current and former elected officials at the state and local levels, as well some activists well known in Republican circles. Among the more prominent names are Norm Adams, founding director of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse; Elizabeth Ames Coleman, former chair of the Texas Railroad Commission; and Ed Hubbard, president of the Greater Houston Pachyderm Club.

"Marco Rubio is the only candidate who can restore and lead the party of Lincoln and Reagan during these unsettled times," Hubbard said in a statement. "Marco is a strong conservative who can unite our party, reach new voters, and beat Hillary Clinton." 

The veterans coalition, Texas Veterans for Marco, has a dozen members from across the U.S. Armed Forces. One of them, Grant Moody, praised Rubio in a statement for "tirelessly fighting against President Obama’s disastrous foreign policies and attempts to gut our military."

The new support adds to Rubio's Texas leadership team, which has more than 50 members. Its co-chairs include three current state representatives: James Frank of Wichita Falls, Larry Gonzales of Round Rock and Jason Isaac of Dripping Springs.

In Texas, Rubio is polling a distant third behind U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and billionaire Donald Trump. Rubio needs to clear 20 percent of the vote statewide or in congressional districts to be eligible for delegates Tuesday.

Rubio's campaign is not looking to vie with Cruz or Trump here but to at least collect some delegates, especially in congressional districts where Cruz may not be as strong. "I believe he will carry some parts of the state," Frank said of Rubio in an interview last week.

Rubio most recently visited Texas for the 10th GOP debate Thursday in Houston. He held two rallies while in the state, one on the eve of the debate in Houston and another the morning after in Dallas.

Texas Grassroots Supporters For Marco 

• Norm Adams
• Laurie Bricker
• Barbara Buxton
• Elizabeth Ames Coleman
• Mary Denny
• Phil Dyer
• Maria Ferrier
• Richard Fonte
• Ed Hubbard
• Betsy Lake
• Mary Grace Landrum
• Arthur Granado
• Shirley Martinez
• Don McAdams,
• Ed Mullen
• Steve Navarre
• Owen Ralston
• Jim Rice
• Bob Shults
• Gayle Strange
• Lily Troung
• Kathryn Wilemon
• Jim Wolverton

Texas Veterans for Marco

• Grant Moody
• Bill Welch
• Ray Jaklitsch
• Scott Apple
• Donnie Fricks
• Travis Peace
• Fred Lozano      
• Verlinda Garcia  
• Ben Welsh
• Jose Analya
• Erene Sanchez
• Peter Kadyk