LITTLE ROCK, Ark — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson backed Marco Rubio's presidential bid Monday, giving the U.S. senator from Florida his highest-profile endorsement in the state a little more than a week before its Republican primary.

Hutchinson, a former congressman and federal Homeland Security official, had previously backed former Gov. Mike Huckabee's campaign. Huckabee dropped out of the race earlier this month after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.

"The more I've watched this election unfold, the more I've come to see that Marco Rubio is the only candidate who can unite our nation the way Ronald Reagan once did," Hutchinson said in a statement released by Rubio's campaign. "Not only is Marco uniquely capable of rallying Americans behind a conservative vision for the future, but he also fully understands what it takes to keep us safe in this dangerous world."

Rubio has been picking up endorsements from the state's top Republicans since Huckabee's exit from the race. Other GOP officials backing him include the state's lieutenant governor, House speaker, Senate president and two of its congressmen. He also has the support of Hutchinson's brother, former U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson.

The endorsement came a day after Rubio addressed a crowd of about 2,000 people in Little Rock.

Arkansas is among a dozen states that are holding nominating caucuses or primaries on March 1. State lawmakers voted last year to move up Arkansas' primary from May, part of an effort to create a regional nominating contest supporters have dubbed the "SEC primary."

Several GOP hopefuls have campaigned in the state since the month, including billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Cruz has the backing of several high-profile Republicans in Arkansas, including its secretary of state. Cruz plans to campaign in Arkansas again Sunday.

Republicans control both chambers of the state Legislature as well as all statewide and federal offices in Arkansas.

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