Kline endorses Rubio for president

Minnesota Second District Republican Rep. John Kline used Twitter Thursday to make an endorsement in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Rubio is trying to consolidate support among establishment Republicans since finishing a strong third in the Iowa Caucuses Monday night.

A recent Star Tribune poll showed that in a head- to-head matchup with Hillary Clinton in Minnesota Rubio would win by 9 points. That's significant, especially since a Republican presidential candidate hasn't won Minnesota's 10 electoral votes since 1972.

Clinton has drawn support from most of Minnesota's prominent elected DFL officials, with the notable exception of 5th District Rep. Keith Ellison, who is backing Bernie Sanders.

Rubio's effort in Minnesota is headed up by Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, who was the Republican candidate for governor in 2014.

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