J. Bernard Machen, president of the University of Florida, yesterday endorsed Sen. John McCain for president.

Mr. Machen’s endorsement could help Mr. McCain’s chances in Florida, which holds its crucial primary January 29. A win there would give Mr. McCain 57 delegates and invaluable momentum heading into the February 5 Super Tuesday contests, when 21 states will vote.

In a statement released by the McCain campaign, Mr. Machen praises Sen. McCain’s “experience, character and integrity” his “straight talk style and distinguished record of service,” and his “commitment to improving our nation’s education system.”

Mr. McCain has provided few details of his plans for higher-education, and his education platform focuses on school choice issues.

But he is well known among college (and other) lobbyists for being an ardent opponent of academic earmarks, the noncompetitive set-asides secured by lawmakers for scientific research and other projects at colleges and universities.

He also helped craft compromise legislation last year to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws. The plan would have set out a path to legal residency for some illegal immigrants who have been enrolled for at least two years in college or the military and would make them eligible for certain federal aid.

Mr. McCain recently backed away from that proposal, telling conservative bloggers that he no longer supported the plan.