JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - Missouri's Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson will lead GOP presidential hopeful Marco Rubio's campaign in Missouri.
Richardson in a Tuesday statement endorsed the Florida senator. Richardson will serve as chairman of Rubio's Missouri campaign.
The speaker praised Rubio for policy plans Richardson said are "built around ideas for tomorrow."
Richardson is a top Republican elected official in Missouri and could be a helpful ally for Rubio's campaign.
The announcement comes after state Republicans last month changed how they'll award presidential delegates for the Republican National Convention.
The GOP next year will split up the 52 delegates among candidates instead of opting for a winner-takes-all approach unless one candidate gets greater than half the statewide vote.
Party officials hope it will make Missouri a more competitive place to campaign.