Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gained the support of a key political figure in New Hampshire on Wednesday, the latest sign of momentum as he continues to seek the 2012 nomination.
Campaigning in New Hampshire, Mr. Romney received the support of former New Hampshire State Senate President Tom Eaton.
“With 25 years of experience in the private sector, Mitt Romney knows how our economy works and how to promote pro-growth policies that will produce jobs,” Mr. Eaton said in a statement. “Mitt is the strongest candidate to take on President Obama and he has the skills needed to rein in spending, control our exploding deficits and bring fiscal sanity back to Washington.”
The endorsement comes as Mr. Romney continues to lead the pack of Republican presidential candidates. Mr. Romney is widely seen as the Republican front-runner and has focused on building support in New Hampshire, rather than in Iowa.
The endorsement is seen as a key victory for Mr. Romney’s campaign. The New Hampshire Republican is closely associated with Texas Republican governor Rick Perry, who announced his campaign for president earlier this year.
Mr. Romney also announced endorsements from supporters in Iowa. Two Iowa Republicans who backed Minnesota’s Tim Pawlenty moved over to endorse Mr. Romney on Wednesday. Chad Airhart and Linda Miller, a state representative from Bettendorf, have joined Mr. Romney’s Iowa Leadership Team, his campaign staff said this morning.
Mr. Romney also won the backing of Vin Weber, a former Minnesota congressman and prominent Washington lobbyist who had served as national co-chairman of former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty’s presidential campaign.
“It is an honor to again work with Mitt Romney. At such a critical time in our nation’s history, it is important that we have someone with his background to lead the country,” Mr. Weber said in a statement. “After three years of failed policies, Mitt Romney’s record of leadership is what we need to strengthen the country both at home and abroad.”
Mr. Pawelenty exited the race earlier this month after taking fourth place in the Ames Republican Straw Poll.
