The Detroit News, one of the leading newspapers in the state of Michigan, endorsed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for president Wednesday.
The endorsement comes a week after Mr. Romney wrote an op-ed article for The Detroit News.
“On leadership, the Michigan native and former Massachusetts governor has the strongest resume of the four remaining Republican candidates. He has not only successfully run a state, but also has deep experience in turning around private companies. America today is the ultimate turnaround project,” wrote The Detroit News in their editorial Wednesday.
The Mitt Romney 2012 campaign website posted the endorsement Wednesday from The Detroit News and another popular newspaper in Michigan, The Oakland Press.
Although the Detroit paper offered a sweeping endorsement of the Bain Capital co-founder, the editorial showed that they disagree with his opposition to the auto industry bailout of 2008 that was crucial to Michigan based auto manufacturers GM and Chrysler.
“We disagree with Romney on a point vital to Michigan — his opposition to the bailout of the domestic automobile industry. Romney advocated for a more traditional bankruptcy process, while we believe the bridge loans provided by the federal government in the fall of 2008 were absolutely essential to the survival of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp,” wrote The Detroit News.
The endorsement for the Mitt Romney 2012 campaign from one of Michigan’s leading newspapers should provide a boost for the former Massachusetts governor. Over the last week, Mr. Romney has found it difficult to connect with voters in the state where he was born and raised, however an NBC News poll of Michigan voters released Wednesday shows that he is statistically tied with rival candidate Rick Santorum in Michigan.
According to NBC News political director Chuck Todd, the bulk of Mr. Romney’s support in Michigan comes from voters residing in the Detroit metropolitan area.
In contrast, Mr. Santorum draws most of his support from voters in the more rural areas of Michigan.
The newspaper also gave its reasons for why voters in Michigan would be “delusional” to believe Mr. Santorum could defeat President Barack Obama in the fall.
“Santorum, Gingrich and Paul are challenging Romney on the Michigan ballot next Tuesday. But those Republicans are delusional if they think either Santorum or Gingrich can prevail in the fall against Obama,” wrote The Detroit News.
“Santorum is stirring on the campaign stump. But the deposed former Pennsylvania senator has already been rejected by the voters who know him best — he lost his seat in the Senate by an epic landslide in 2008. In addition, his fealty to the religious right will make him unappealing to the critical independent voters who will decide the election,” wrote the newspaper.
Mr. Romney also enjoys an endorsement from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, who has been advocating for him throughout the state over the last week.
The former Massachusetts governor will join his rival candidates in Arizona Wednesday night for a nationally televised debate moderated by CNN.
