Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R) picked up a major endorsement today, as Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.) announced her support for the conservative state legislator.

"Originally, I had not planned to endorse in this race, but as the challenges facing our nation and Florida grow more severe, times demand someone willing to make hard choices," said Brown-Waite in a statement released by the Rubio campaign. "Washington needs leaders with solid conservative beliefs and the courage to do the right thing. Marco Rubio does not try to be all things to all people. Like me, what you see is what you get. Marco Rubio is the consistent, principled conservative we need to provide a check and balance on the Obama-Reid agenda."

Brown-Waite, who hails from a Gulf Coast district west of Orlando, has a voting record that places her in the middle of the House GOP, according to National Journal's vote ratings, though she's recently been more conservative on foreign policy and immigration issues. Earlier this week she spoke out on the House floor in support of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), shortly before the chamber passed a resolution of disapproval for his behavior during President Obama's speech.

This is one of Rubio's biggest endorsements. He was previously endorsed by South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint (R), who appeared alongside Rubio at a Capitol Hill press conference earlier this year.