In 2015 , Dole endorsed former Florida governor Jeb Bush in his presidential campaign . After Bush ended his campaign following the South Carolina primary , Dole endorsed Florida senator Marco Rubio 's campaign . During the campaign , Dole criticized Texas senator Ted Cruz , stating that he " question ed his allegiance to the party " and that there would be " wholesale losses " if he were to win the Republican nomination . Dole endorsed Donald Trump after the latter clinched the Republican nomination , and Dole was the lone former Republican presidential nominee to attend the 2016 Republican National Convention . Dole had attended every GOP convention since 1964 , and did not consider skipping the 2016 edition even though Trump 's politics were closer to that of Dole 's 1996 primary rival Pat Buchanan
2016 Republican National Convention
2016 Republican National Convention
Bob Dole