Marco Rubio's former chief of staff endorses Jeb Bush for president

Marco Rubio's former chief of staff is not endorsing him for president. Instead, the Florida House Speaker Designate Richard Corcoran announced Monday that he is siding with Rubio's potentially biggest competitor in the 2016 race: Jeb Bush.

"I have known Jeb Bush for over 20 years," Corcoran wrote in a release. "As governor, Jeb Bush set the standard against which all other conservatives in this state are measured — no one in Florida would argue that."

Considering Corcoran's close ties to Rubio, his choice comes as a shock to many. As St. Peter's Blog aptly puts it, "Corcoran's endorsement is an 'Et tu, Brute' moment: As a former top adviser to Rubio, the argument can be made that few know Rubio's abilities — and limitations — as a leader better than Corcoran."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Corcoran is also breaking from his family in this endorsement, as his brother, a prominent Florida lobbyist, has already endorsed Rubio and raised about $250,000 for the Florida senator's campaign.

After Bush's decline in the polls, his lackluster performance last week in the third Republican debate, and the exit of his campaign's chief operating officer, Corcoran's endorsement is a nice vote of confidence for the struggling campaign. This is "the clearest sign yet that Bush has no plans to drop out of the race," St. Peter's Blog says. Now that Corcoran has joined team Bush, that puts every Florida House speaker of the modern Republican era — save Rubio and Johnnie Byrd — supporting Bush.

"He is without question, the most courageous conservative in this race," Corcoran said of Bush. "That's what I want in a leader, and what I know the electorate deserves."