Virginia Republican Governor Bob McDonnell endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for president on Friday, in a last minute effort to help Mr. Romney’s chances at winning the South Carolina Republican primary election on Saturday.
Mr. McDonnell’s endorsement follows a heated presidential debate in South Carolina Thursday night moderated by CNN. The Virginia governor’s popularity as a conservative Republican could give Mr. Romney a boost in support from conservatives, as he has tried to combat rival candidate Newt Gingrich’s characterization of him as a “Massachusetts moderate.”
A Public Polling Policy poll of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters released Thursday night shows Mr. Romney garnering the majority of voters that identified themselves as “moderate Republicans” in the survey. In contrast, the same PPP poll shows Mr. Gingrich holding the support of the majority of voters that identify themselves as “conservative Republicans.”
The Virginia Republican governor will reportedly also travel to South Carolina on Friday to campaign for the Bain Capital co-founder.
In announcing his support for Mr. Romney, Mr. McDonnell cited his experience in job creation and his record as the governor of Massachusetts as his primary reasons for endorsing Mr. Romney.
“Mitt Romney has been an effective leader his entire life, in business, the Olympics and as governor,” said Mr. McDonnell in a statement Friday. “President Obama’s lack of leadership experience is now clear – he has failed to turn around the economy and end the gridlock in Washington. Mitt Romney used his leadership ability in a politically difficult environment to balance the budget every year, cut spending and taxes, and create jobs.”
The Virginia governor served in the army for more than 21 years so his popularity among military members could help Mr. Romney in the military heavy Palmetto state. Mr. McDonnell is also the current chairman of the Republican Governors Association, and has been rumored as a possible vice presidential candidate for the 2012 Republican ticket.
Governor McDonnell’s endorsement of Mr. Romney is interesting considering his relationship with rival candidate Mr. Gingrich. In late December he appeared at a campaign event in Virginia with Mr. Gingrich as the former House speaker attempted to obtain enough signatures to qualify for the Virginia primary ballot on Super Tuesday in March. At that event he called Mr. Gingrich the “Virginia candidate,” a reference to Mr. Gingrich’s residence in McLean, VA just outside of Washington D.C.
However, he did not offer an endorsement of Mr. Gingrich at the time and was critical of him and the other candidates who did not submit enough signatures to qualify for the Virginia primary ballot in March. Only Mr. Romney and Texas congressman Ron Paul qualified for the Virginia primary ballot, which essentially narrowed the field to two candidates for Mr. McDonnell to endorse.
Mr. Romney was thankful of the endorsement from the Virginia governor Friday.
“Governor McDonnell’s leadership in Virginia is an example for the rest of the nation,” said Mitt Romney in a statement Friday. “Governor McDonnell has used the conservative principles of keeping taxes and spending low and creating a fair regulatory climate to make Virginia a top destination for job creators. These same principles can be used in Washington to fix our economy and make government accountable to the taxpayers.”
