The newspaper was secretly purchased for $140 million last year by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, the casino mogul and chairman of the Las Vegas Sands Corp.

News reports later identified Adelson as the company's new owner.

Adelson, long a heavy contributor to Republican and pro-Israel causes, has not yet endorsed a candidate. He has, though, expressed interest in Rubio and donated $2,700 to Ted Cruz's campaign in November, The Wall Street Journal reports.

"After much consideration, the Review-Journal is endorsing Sen. Marco Rubio for Nevada's first-in-the-West Republican caucus on Feb. 23," the newspaper's editorial board said.

The board met with Rubio on Oct. 9, two months before the Adelson purchase was announced.

"The Adelsons have detached themselves from our endorsement process, and our endorsement of Sen. Rubio does not represent the support of the family," the editorial said.