As Donald Trump continues to lead the polls nationally, and Ted Cruz continues to rally Christians and grass-roots conservatives to his cause, there remains a battle for the “establishment lane” in the Republican presidential race.
Marco Rubio, John Kasich, and Jeb Bush are locking horns in an all-out effort to claim the GOP establishment banner. And while Bush is well-connected with many establishment Republicans in the Palmetto State, and Kasich has almost no ground game whatsoever, Rubio has tried to establish himself as a winning alternative.
Ahead of Saturday night’s debate—which will be broadcast on CBS affiliates around the country—in Greenville, S.C., the Florida senator may have landed a game-changing endorsement. Knox White, the current and longest-serving mayor of Greenville, which is home to Bob Jones University, has announced he will appear with Rubio at a “pre-debate rally.”
The event, which will be held at the Greeville airport, is expected to have a large gathering of Rubio supporters. White, who is an Episcopalian, is likely to announce his endorsement, based on past “special guest” announcements for previous Rubio events.
White has been heavily involved in GOP politics since 1972, and was an unsuccessful congressional candidate in 1988. Like Rubio, is an attorney, but has served as mayor in Greenville since 1995, having just won a new four-year term last year.
