U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) announced his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Thursday.
The endorsement by the North Carolina senator brings Mr. Romney’s total number of endorsements from Republican senators to 11, according to Roll Call.
“Governor Romney’s proven leadership and his track record on issues of vital importance such as reducing government spending and creating jobs are exactly what we need to put Americans back to work, reduce our spending and address our national debt, and put our nation on the path to economic prosperity,” Mr. Burr said Thursday.
“The lack of leadership from the current Administration has had a devastating effect on our nation, our economy, and on American families across the country,” the North Carolina Republican added.
Mr. Romney, who has never served in either chamber of Congress, has now received a total of 60 endorsements combined from GOP members of the Senate and House of Representatives, the highest of any of the Republican candidates from the 2012 field.
Mr. Burr served five terms in the House prior to being elected to the Senate in 2005. In 2008, he endorsed Sen. John McCain (R-AZ.) who eventually went on to win the Republican nomination.
Mr. Romney now has a total of one fourth of the Republican senators endorsing him and endorsements from one fifth of Republican members of the House.
The next closest Republican presidential candidate to those numbers is Texas Governor Rick Perry, who has a total of 14, with 1 Republican senator endorsing him and 13 Republican members of the House.
“I am honored to have Senator Burr’s support,” Mr. Romney said Thursday in a statement posted to his website.
“Senator Burr has been a consistent conservative who is committed to lowering taxes, abolishing unnecessary regulations, and restoring our nation’s fiscal health. With his help, I look forward to bringing my message of a ‘Simpler, Smaller, and Smarter’ federal government to voters in North Carolina and across the nation,” the former Massachusetts governor added.
