Story highlights GOP Sen. Tom Cotton offers tongue-in-cheek support for colleague Bernie Sanders

Cotton would mark the first senator to support Sanders

Washington (CNN) High-profile endorsements can sometimes help candidates, but Bernie Sanders recently received one that might not do him any good.

Speaking on an episode of "Arkansas Week: Special Edition" that aired on January 1, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, offered tongue-in-cheek support for the Vermont senator in the Democratic presidential contest.

"For many months, I've been strongly in favor of Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary," Cotton said.

Cotton's support would mark the first senator to back Sanders -- 38 of his 46 Democratic colleagues have announced their support for front-runner Hillary Clinton. The remaining Democrats have yet to weigh in.