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Rubio Gains Momentum, Picks Up SC Senator Endorsement

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - Florida Senator Marco Rubio picked up an endorsement from South Carolina Senator Tim Scott hours before his narrow third place finish in the Iowa caucus.

Scott called Rubio the "one shot" Republicans have to win the presidency in November.

Scott joins South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy in endorsing Rubio. South Carolina's other senator, Lindsey Grahan, has thrown his support to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Rubio says Scott's endorsement is going to echo through the race for the Republican nomination. In a live interview early Tuesday in New Hampshire Rubio said that Scott's "impact is not just going to be in South Carolina but around the country."

New Hampshire votes next, followed by South Carolina.

The outstanding endorsement prize is South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who delivered the GOP's national response to President Barack Obama's state of the union address last month. Haley has not indicated when she might publicly take sides.

After the votes were tallied, Cruz scored 27.7 percent support to Trump's second-place finish at 24.3 percent. Rubio was right on the billionaire real estate developers tail with 23.1 percent.

Rubio's campaign says the Iowa vote shifted the contest from crowd to a fight between the candidates who placed first, second and third. Ted Cruz scored 27.7 percent support to Trump's second-place finish at 24.3 percent. Rubio was right on the tail or Trump with just over 23 percent.

Rubio Boosters see him in a three-man horse race now for the nomination.

Miami activist and millionaire Norman Braman has given millions to Rubio's campaign.

"I think people out in Iowa saw in Senator Rubio the qualities that they want for their next president," Braman told CBS4 News on Tuesday.

Braman believes Rubio's youthful appearance, almost baby face will work in his favor.

"I think people are beginning to realize that Senator Rubio represents the future and not the past," Braman said.

Indeed, Jeb Bush – the once heir apparent to the nomination – with plenty of "past" behind him, drew just three percent of the Iowa vote, finishing a dismal sixth.

Rubio's campaign plans to use his strong finish to go after Cruz whose career they say was "one of calculation."

For example, Rubio says "criticizes New York values but has raised millions of dollars from New York City."

Cruz has been willing to take a bundle of money from New Yorkers. His donors include Wall Street hedge fund mogul Robert Mercer, who contributed $11 million in April to a Cruz-aligned super PAC, according to federal filings.

Asked about other Republican rivals, including John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, Rubio campaign spokesman Alex Conant said none have a pathway forward to the nomination without winning the next primary in New Hampshire.

In the Iowa caucuses, a key demographic picture emerged for Rubio, according to CBS News Elections Director and analyst, Anthony Salvanto.

"He did very well with people who are looking for a candidate that they thought could win in November," Salvanto said.

The third place finisher in Iowa has gone on to win the nomination and the presidency in the past.  Bill Clinton did it on the Democratic side, as did George H.W. Bush for the GOP.

For more on Campaign 2016, click here.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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