U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman said Wednesday he was “heartbroken” that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio had ended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination following a distant second-place loss in his home state to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.

“There’s no doubt in my mind he would have won Colorado if it had come to a vote,” Coffman told The Colorado Statesman in a statement. “His support here is deep and wide, and we were honored to be with a candidate who exudes such optimism, strength and class. Some others could take pointers.”

Colorado Republicans opted not to conduct a statewide presidential preference poll at precinct caucuses March 1. A smattering of unofficial polls conducted by precincts and counties across the state indicated that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz led among caucus-goers, followed by Rubio and Trump.

Coffman endorsed Rubio in December, adding his name to a growing list of Colorado Republicans that included U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and former Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Fruita, who chaired Rubio’s Colorado campaign.

Gardner, the first U.S. senator to endorse Rubio, in November, said on Twitter Tuesday night that his colleague’s “positive vision for America is our best path forward,” adding, “I am proud to call him a friend.”

Echoing Coffman’s contention that Rubio’s optimism was among his best characteristics, Gardner suggested the GOP candidates still in the running — Trump, Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich — should take a page from the Florida senator.

“The GOP must be the party of optimism — those remaining in the race must raise their gaze and inspire America,” Gardner tweeted. In a third tweet, Gardner said he couldn’t wait to see what Rubio does next and extended his best wishes for Rubio’s family.

State Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs, who endorsed Rubio in late February after Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul dropped from the race, offered a similar take on Rubio’s announcement he was suspending his bid.

“Senator Rubio’s optimism and energy will be missed in the ongoing campaign,” Hill told The Statesman. He declined to say if he would be supporting one of the remaining candidates.

Former state Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, was another Colorado Republican who threw her support to Rubio after the earliest primaries had winnowed the field. The former co-chair of the Kasich campaign in Colorado came out for Rubio after the Nevada caucuses, saying that it was time for Republicans to “rally” behind a candidate who could stop Trump from winning the nomination.

“Needless to say, I was disappointed in his loss in Florida, but I think he was extremely gracious and handled it with an immense amount of class by congratulating Donald Trump on the win,” Nikkel told The Statesman Wednesday. “This obviously wasn’t his time, but I think it was good that he gave it a shot. I hope to see him on the national stage again in the future!”

Nikkel said she is planning to run to be a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

Saying she was pleased with Kasich’s win in his home state of Ohio, she added, “People in the Buckeye State love their governor, and I know that win meant a lot to his campaign. I look forward to seeing what happens with the three remaining candidates.”

— ernest@coloradostatesman.com