Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) has endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s (R) 2008 presidential bid. [IMGCAP(1)]

Boustany is among the more conservative Members to endorse Giuliani, who is seeking to build chits among his party’s base.

“As a Republican and a conservative, I know Rudy Giuliani is the best choice to be the next president,” Boustany said in a statement released by Giuliani’s campaign.

Earlier this month, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) became the first and only Senator to endorse Giuliani, who is much more socially liberal than the two Pelican State lawmakers.

Giuliani now has 13 Congressional endorsements, roughly half the number of his two main rivals for the Republican nomination, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

— Lauren W. Whittington