Florida Sen. Marco Rubio made some presidential campaign stops in Kansas on Friday, visiting Topeka and Wichita before coming to the Overland Park Marriott for a rally.
41 Action News Reporter Dia Wall spoke with the Republican presidential candidate in an exclusive interview.
"We're feeling great. We're doing really well here. We want to win. We want everyone to come out and caucus for us tomorrow. It's important. The country is at stake. The future of our country, the future of the conservative movement is at stake," Rubio said.
Rubio also attacked current Republican front runner Donald Trump, saying that if Trump wins the party's nomination, the GOP will lose the general election to current Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton.
"So what [Trump]'s tried to do is he's tried to cover for his lack of ideas with his abrasive terminology, his insults, his attacks against other people. I just think voters are going to see through it, and Republicans in Kansas, I don't think they're going to fall for that," Rubio said.
Former Sen. Rick Santorum, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez also attended and spoke at the rally.
It's on FIRE in here for @marcorubio tonight. Hot too. So many people still waiting outside. @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/24UcCjbjHf
— Dia Wall (@DiaWall) March 5, 2016
Brownback recently endorsed Rubio saying, "He will be a wonderful president."
"Marco Rubio is a true conservative who can unite the party and defeat Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in the fall. In the past, conservatives have been forced to make a choice between their head and their hearts. This year, we are fortunate to not have to make that choice. Marco Rubio has a proven track record of protecting life, defending religious liberty, and undoing Obamacare. He will be a wonderful President, and I am proud to offer him my full support.”
Several presidential campaigns are making stops in Kansas ahead of the caucus. Here are 10 things you need to know about the Kansas caucus.
Santorum campaigns for Rubio in Leawood
Santorum stopped by the Roasterie Cafe in Leawood on Friday to speak with voters ahead of the Kansas caucuses this weekend.
Santorum dropped out of the race shortly after the Iowa Caucuses, and he is now throwing his support behind Rubio.
"I think Marco is right in line with the policies that I advocated," Santorum explained. "He's a strong conviction conservative and someone who is unabashedly pro-life."
Donald Trump is currently leading in Kansas polls ahead of the Republican caucus. Santorum hopes voters change course on Saturday.
"If voters want to stop the Donald Trump train, I think the guy to do so is Marco Rubio," said Santorum. "He's surging right now in Kansas. I think he's really the best avenue to deny Trump a win here in Kansas."
Santorum also said the results on Saturday in Kansas could end up impacting much more than the presidency.
"It's not just about who the president is. It's also who's going to control the Supreme Court," he explained. "If we don't nominate a Republican who can win, we're going to end up with Hillary Clinton and five young liberal Supreme Court justices."
Republican and Democrat voters will head out to caucus on Saturday across Kansas.
On Friday, volunteers for campaigns were busy making calls to voters and canvassing neighborhoods.
"We started planning for the caucus in October," said Johnson County Republican Party Chairman Theresa Segraves. "I think this year, Kansas is going to be on the map a lot more. I think we're going to get a lot more attention, which is wonderful."
The Republican Kansas Caucus is happening on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Democrats will hold caucus around the state starting at 3 p.m., but doors open at 1 p.m.
Watch 41 Action News Reporter Tom Dempsey's interview with Rick Santorum below.
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Dia Wall can be reached at dia.wall@kshb.com.
Tom Dempsey can be reached at tom.dempsey@kshb.com.
