Mike Lee becomes first sitting senator to endorse Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz secured his first endorsement from a sitting senator Thursday from longtime friend Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

The endorsement comes just hours ahead of Thursday night's GOP debate and days before Florida's crucial primary, and delivers yet another blow to Rubio's already suffering campaign. Just last month, Lee declined to pick between Cruz and Rubio, campaigning with both candidates in South Carolina.

Lee's decision to throw his support behind Cruz comes as Republicans scramble to unite behind a single candidate to defeat frontrunner Donald Trump, and Lee says he hopes his decision will influence more of his Republican colleagues to do the same.

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"Unity in the Republican Party is more important than ever before," Lee said, predicting that he'll be the "first of many" to endorse Cruz.