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U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe said this week he isn’t ready to endorse anyone for the Republican presidential nomination, but he described Florida’s Marco Rubio as “one that I really do like.”

“The reason I say that is he’s so knowledgeable,” Inhofe said. “I’d love to see him in a debate with Hillary (Clinton) just for my own personal entertainment.”

Rubio is running third to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in most national polling, but he is favored by many traditional Republicans. In Oklahoma, he has the endorsements of several legislators as well as Oklahoma City energy tycoon Larry Nichols and 2nd District Congressman Markwayne Mullin.

Rubio has yet to campaign in Oklahoma, and Inhofe acknowledged Wednesday that Rubio “hasn’t moved as much as he should have” nationally, but was otherwise complimentary.

Inhofe’s warm words for Rubio came as some conservatives criticized his vote for the omnibus funding bill Congress passed two weeks ago. Inhofe says the agreement included Democratic concessions on at least 10 key issues, but critics say congressional Republicans weren’t aggressive enough in negotiations.