FULL LIST: 28 state officials endorse Marco Rubio for president

Twenty-eight Arkansas elected officials endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for president during a news conference Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Many of those endorsing Rubio, a group which included Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford and Steve Womack, had previously supported former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee before he suspended his campaign Feb. 1.

"I believe deeply that Marco Rubio has the vision for America that best articulates the conservative principles of the Republican Party," said Arkansas House of Representatives Majority Leader Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan. "Most of all, I think Rubio has the appeal across the broad spectrum of the populace that will bring our party together and our country together."

State Senate Majority Leader Jim Hendren, R-Gravette, praised Rubio's commitment to national security and military strength.

"There is no greater time that it has been so imperative that we elect a president who understands foreign policy and how to deal with the threats that we face," he said.

Rubio's state chairman, state Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, concluded the news conference by saying he was confident the senator would visit before the primary and that Arkansans could expect to see him "very soon."

"His message of family and faith is going to do very, very well here in Arkansas," Hester said.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.