Marco Rubio is emerging more and more as the GOP's "establishment candidate" in the 2016 White House race, as party elders seek alternatives to controversial front-runner Donald Trump and Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz.

The support the Florida senator is getting from Republican heavyweights was evidenced this week by a number of high-profile endorsements of his presidential bid, including that of Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the chairman of the powerful House ­Oversight Committee, on Jan. 6, The Hill reported.

The only candidate in the crowded GOP field who still bests Rubio with respect to congressional endorsements is his fellow Floridian Jeb Bush, whose political ties and experience as a former Florida governor, along with his direct family connections to two former presidents, far exceed the senator's network.

The latest endorsements, meanwhile, are likely to bode well for the Cuban-American lawmaker, who is on track to making a mark in the nation's early primary races, spokesman Alex Conant predicted.

"According to every metric we care about on the ground in the early states, we are definitely making progress towards doing very well in February," Conant said. "When Marco entered this race in April, the establishment was telling him to wait his turn and to run for reelection. Other candidates continue to raise more money than us, but I don't think there's any question that Marco has gained significant momentum over the past few weeks."

Beyond his newly announced backers, though, Rubio also scored headlines with some of his latest fashion choices. The senator was recently spotted in some shiny, stack-heeled ankle boots, The New York Times reported.

The Rubio campaign told Politico that the footwear was a pair of Florsheims boots, which retail for about $100, after online speculation had been rampant about their origin and price tag. Nevertheless, Rubio's Republican rivals used the hooplah to make fun of the Floridian's fashion choices on social media.

"A Vote for Marco Rubio Is a Vote for Men's High-Heeled Booties," said Rick Tyler, Cruz's communications director, on Twitter.

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