Gov Mitt Romney met with former President George H W Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush last December. (Photo AP/Pat Sullivan)

“As a naval aviator, congressman, ambassador, CIA director, vice president, and president, George H.W. Bush served our country with great devotion and high distinction over many decades. When we talk about the Greatest Generation, we are talking about those like President Bush, who, after Pearl Harbor, enlisted in our armed forces and served with unflinching courage during World War II. This is a man who knows from the ground up – and from the top down – the meaning of responsibility in exercising leadership in our democracy. I am proud to have him as my mentor. Ann and I are grateful to be able to call Barbara and George our good friends. There is no greater honor than earning President Bush’s endorsement and I am grateful for all George and Barbara have done.”

(emphasis added)

FOX News aired the endorsement LIVE this afternoon. This important news, combined with yesterday’s backing from Senator Marco Rubio and the recent endorsement from Jeb Bush, underscores the flood of sentiment that it’s time to end the primary season, rally around Romney, and get ready to battle Obama.

When video becomes available, we’ll post it. Check back for updates!

UPDATE - Maggie Haberman – Politico

George H.W. Bush, re-endorsing Mitt Romney today in Texas and making it formal for the first time – complete with live Fox News footage – was egged on by his wife Barbara:

“Aren’t you going to sing a song for us? Know when to fold ‘em?” she asked her husband, per POLITICO’s Reid Epstein.

“Yeah,” he said. “I do think it’s time for the party to get behind Gov. Romney. And she was reminding me Kenny Rogers sang, ‘It’s time when to hold ‘em and time when to fold ‘em.’ Well I think it’s time for people to all get behind this good man…We’re so convinced and we’ve known Mitt for a very long time, that he’s the man to do this job and get on and win the presidency, and that’s about it. And with no further ado, here’s the man.”

UPDATE 2 - Apparently President Bush 41 loves socks with pizazz. At their meeting today in Texas, he presented Romney with a pair (love it!):

Photo taken by D G Jackson (Mitt Body Man) March 29, 2012 (Click on photo to enlarge.)

UPDATE 3 – Video of the endorsement (FOX didn’t cut away soon enough to get the first part of the endorsement. I’ll try to locate video of the entire event.):

UPDATE 4 – Here’s CNN’s video (Pres Bush speaks; Barbara Bush sings Ann Romney’s praises!):

UPDATE 5 – The Daily Caller is reporting a Paul Ryan endorsement of Mitt Romney is imminent. If true, this would be another breathtaking endorsement! Details here.

► Jayde Wyatt

Drudge broke the news/rumor and twitter went all a-flitter: Rubio to endorse tonight! And so tonight on the Sean Hannity show Marco Rubio made his 2012 endorsement official:

The go-ahead nod from Marco Rubio is perhaps the biggest endorsement in this race since Chris Christie. It is a rally call to all conservatives that this race, though not ended, is essentially over.

Said Rubio of Romney, “he offers a stark contrast to the President’s record.”

This news is breaking… more quotes, and perhaps video, will be forth coming.

~Nate G.

VIDEO UPDATE:

FOX News’ Sean Hannity: “Up to this point, you had not jumped into the primary race. Are you endorsing Mitt Romney then?”

Senator Marco Rubio: “Well, I am going to endorse Mitt Romney and the reason why is not only because he is going to be the Republican nominee but he offers at this point, such a stark contrast to the President’s record. Look at the President’s record. This is someone who has run the country, not very well over the last three years, that has no experience beyond that doing that, at the same time, as he has no experience with the private sector or the free enterprise system. In Mitt Romney, we have a candidate, an alternative, that in addition to being successful as a governor, running an important state in this country, has also been successful in the private sector and offers a very clear alternative to the direction this president is going to take our country. I think all the candidates in this race have a lot to be proud of. They have offered a lot to the debate. But I just can’t buy into this idea that by their own admission, they are saying the only way they can win this race is by having a floor fight in Tampa in August. I think that’s a recipe to deliver four more years to Barack Obama and our country – forget about the Republican Party – our country cannot afford that. We have got to come together behind who I think has earned this nomination and that’s Mitt Romney.”

Mitt Romney:

“Marco Rubio is living proof that the American Dream is still very much alive. … From humble origins, he has risen to become one of the brightest lights in our political party. He has been a leading voice in the U.S. Senate and the country for the cause of restoring American greatness. He knows that the way forward is to end excessive regulations, shrink government, and get our economy growing. He understands that the way to strengthen our communities is to strengthen our families. He recognizes the dangers that will face America if we fail to maintain our military power. He understands how critical it is to bring new leadership to the White House. Senator Rubio’s endorsement is a major milestone in my effort to make Barack Obama a one-term president. Ann joins me in thanking him for the confidence he is placing in my leadership and for the great honor he has done me today.”

Mitt was endorsed by Ivanka Trump as well:

This breaking news just in from CNN:

Jeb Bush for Mitt!

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush endorsed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney Wednesday. Bush released the following statement:

“Congratulations to Governor Mitt Romney on his win last night and to all the candidates for a hard fought, thoughtful debate and primary season. Primary elections have been held in thirty-four states, and now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall. I am endorsing Mitt Romney for our Party’s nomination. We face huge challenges, and we need a leader who understands the economy, recognizes more government regulation is not the answer, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism and works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed.”

Just minutes ago, Jeb Bush tweeted his support:

I’ve endorsed @MittRomney. It’s time for GOP to unite & take our message of fiscal conservatism & job creation to all voters.

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) March 21, 2012

The Chicago Tribune Endorsement: We need to fix our debt, and only Mitt is qualified or able

The Chicago Tribune has recognized what we all knew: Mitt Romney is the most qualified GOP candidate in this race, and has endorsed him as the GOP nominee. The entire op ed is at this link.

One of the principal reasons they cite for supporting Mitt is the danger that our deficit and accumulating national debt represent. They recognize that at our current rate of spending, if unchecked by what they call “useless” politicians, our children will become the equivalent of indentured servants paying the bills for our generation’s excesses. And they don’t even mention how, recently, the true cost of Obamacare has been recognized as being much greater than originally thought. They conclude that Mitt, not Rick Santorum, is the right choice to address this pivotal issue:

Who might engineer a fix? Only one of the four Republicans still in this primary race has the personal skill set, the painfully won experience, to appreciate this peril and to guide Americans through their own financial rescue. For many of those Americans, the nation’s debt debacle still seems drab, dense, something to think about tomorrow. Yet it risks shrinking and marginalizing our country’s future and global influence, just as debt debacles are shrinking and marginalizing much of Europe.

While three of the Republican candidates were giving speeches and casting votes in Congress, one of these four was managing, and sometimes salvaging, large enterprises in the public and private sectors. One of these four was forced to make costly organizations live, however unpleasantly, within their means. One of these four was learning what it is to live with the often good, sometimes bad, consequences of his executive decisions.

For his demonstrated abilities and the economic pragmatism at his core, the Tribune endorses former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts as the Republicans’ best, most responsible choice in Tuesday’s Illinois primary. The other three contestants, for lack of Romney’s credibility on this threat to the American way, can only try to talk a good game. We’re far more confident that Romney is the candidate best equipped to keep the U.S. from devolving into New Europe.

The article concludes with these statements:

Come November, partisans in both parties will be tempted to ignore their nominee’s failure to deal with this debt bomb. The nation can’t do that. Voters have to demand more discipline from Obama and from the Republican candidate.

One more advantage for Romney: He is the candidate most likely to steer the Republican Party toward its traditional values: financial responsibility, economic (and thus job) growth, social tolerance, and a limited role for government in the lives of the governed. That does not necessitate alienating tea partiers and social conservatives, many of them motivated by the irresponsible expansion of our national debt; for nearly three years they have been the most energetic force in American politics. It does, though, mean hewing to a strategy perfected by Ronald Reagan: Recruit to your big tent everyone who agrees with you on something, not just those who agree with you on everything.

Presidential primaries are not for electing. They’re for nominating candidates who, by talent and temperament, are qualified to lead and inspire all Americans. Romney is the least polarizing candidate in today’s Republican field. He projects maturity and calm. He’s fit to apply conservative ideals to the messy business of governing.

Illinois voters: we here at MittRomneyCentral have known for a long time that Mitt is the only candidate equipped to deal with our nation’s most important issues. Top of that list are the economy and the related issue of our national debt. Our nation’s economic and even military security depend on tackling these issues, and only Mitt Romney has any experience at tackling such issues. If you’re considering who to vote for, these issues are too important to leave in the hands of an inexperienced politician. We’ve tried that before, with horrible results. It’s time for an experienced leader. Mitt Romney.

Time for the wearin’ o’ the green as the Missouri caucuses get underway today with 52 delegates to be awarded. Caucus rules are a wee bit confusing; information may be found here and here.

Sure and begorra if Governor Romney didn’t receive MORE Missouri endorsements this week:

“I am proud to see more Missouri leaders coming to my campaign,” said Mitt Romney. “These leaders support my vision for more jobs, smaller government, and less debt and with their support over the next couple of days and in November, we can defeat President Obama and bring conservative change to Washington.”

“Mitt Romney is the only candidate who can win in November and put in place conservative policies that will jump-start the economy,” said Jefferson City Mayor Eric Struemph. “It is time for Republicans to unite behind Mitt Romney and work our hardest to defeat President Obama in November. This election is too important to allow President Obama to have four more years in the White House.”

Missouri Leaders Endorsing Mitt Romney:
Eric Struemph, Jefferson City Mayor
Walt Bivins, Former State Representative
Rick Stream, State Representative
Katee Porter, County Commissioner
Robert Snyder, Former State Representative and Missouri Court of Appeals Judge
Brian Fullmer, Smithville Mayor
Lynda Fullmer, Republican Committeewoman, Clay County Central Committee
Herb Jones, Former Mayor of Kirkwood
Tom Wilsdon, Republican Committeeman (Maryland Heights), St. Louis County Central Committee
Neal Breitweiser, Republican Committeeman (Creve Coeur), St. Louis County Central Committee
Alan Wheeler, Republican Committeeman (Bonhomme), St. Louis County Central Committee
Kathlyn Fares, Former State Representative
Rich Magee, Mayor of Glendale
Maryann Rober, Republican Committeewoman (Clayton), St. Louis County Central Committee

The Romney Campaign released a sharp new video ad titled Missouri: Stand with Mitt…

Romney supporter Donald Trump did a phone interview with FOX News’ Greta Van Susteren last night. He’s been doing a bang-up job speaking for The Gov (love how he doesn’t let her run over him). He really took a shillelagh to President Obama and Rick Santorum during the interview:

Because everyone is Irish on March 17th, and we have a fine tradition of celebrating the day here at MRC, click below the fold. You’ll be ready to get your green on… and that’s no blarney!

Read more…

While traveling on his campaign bus in Ohio, Mitt Romney watched a television interview of his wife, Ann, and Neil Cavuto (FOX News). March 5, 2012
(Photo / Zac Moffat)

On this eve before Super Tuesday, it was refreshing to see a couple of positive pieces for Mitt Romney on FOX News.

Today, Ann Romney was interviewed by Neil Cavuto. They both deal with the challenges of Multiple Sclerosis; Cavuto asked her about the rigors of campaigning. It was a wonderful exchange; Ann focused on Governor Romney’s ability to turn things around:

Featured in a phone interview today on the opening segment of FOX News’ The Five, charming and outspoken former First Lady Barbara Bush spoke on why she supports Mitt Romney. She also offered a second ‘unofficial’ endorsement for Romney on behalf of her husband, President, George H.W. Bush. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle on December 22, 2011, President Bush 41 said he was drawn to Romney’s “stability, experience, principles,” adding, “He’s a fine person. I just think he’s mature and reasonable – not a bomb-thrower.”

Last Friday, Mrs. Romney visited Romney campaign headquarters in Ohio to thank volunteers and cheer on supporters. While speaking, she highlighted the impact women are having in the election:

“The message that has been resonating for me, as I’ve been speaking all across this country, has been an economic message, and I love it that women are concerned and are voting for economic reasons. This is so important,” said Mrs. Romney. “What I hear from all women – I heard it in Florida, I heard it in Michigan, I heard it in Nevada, I heard it New Hampshire, I heard it everywhere, everywhere I go – is that moms are very angry about the deficit spending in Washington, D.C. They are very upset about the burdens their children are going to inherit, and they think it’s irresponsible of us to pass along that kind of burden to our children and grandchildren.”

“I think women in the general election are going to make a huge difference in this nation and … for the first time, may be voting their pocketbooks, which is great,” continued Mrs. Romney.

Read more…

Wave after wave, endorsements for Mitt Romney keep rolling in…

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft joins our Romney ranks and, following the example of Senator Tom Coburn yesterday, additional leaders in Oklahoma say Mitt is THE MAN. They also cite the endorsement theme we’re seeing over and over again – Romney’s proven leadership.

Romney Press Team:

Fmr U.S. Atty Gen John Ashcroft

“It is an honor to have the support of Attorney General Ashcroft,” said Mitt Romney. “After working with him on the 2002 Winter Olympics, I know that he is deeply committed to serving our country and protecting its citizens and I look forward to his counsel over the coming months.”

“The election in November is as important an election as I can remember,” said Attorney General Ashcroft. “At home, we face economic and fiscal peril and abroad, we face uncertainty in volatile regions of the world. Our country needs an iron-willed president of integrity to lead us through these troubled times. No other candidate stands out for his executive leadership experience or ability to accomplish difficult tasks as does Mitt Romney. As a conservative who served as Governor of Missouri during the Reagan revolution, I admire Mitt’s record of fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and defense of traditional values in a politically difficult state for a Republican. I had the opportunity to work with Mitt Romney on issues of national security during the 2002 Winter Olympics and counted him as a trustworthy, effective ally in the fight against terror while he was Governor of Massachusetts. I know that the lives and liberties of the American people will be secure with him as President. I am grateful for the opportunity to support him and urge all voters who want to restore America to her preeminent place of leadership in values, strength and prosperity to support him now and in November.”

Background on Attorney General John Ashcroft:

John Ashcroft has had a long and distinguished history in public service. From 2001 to 2005, he served in President George W. Bush’s cabinet as Attorney General. Ashcroft served one term as a U.S. Senator from Missouri and two terms as Missouri’s Governor. From 1977 to 1985, Ashcroft served as Missouri’s Attorney General. From 1973 to 1974, Ashcroft was the Missouri State Auditor. He currently serves as the founder of The Ashcroft Group, LLC.

Romney Press Team:

Click on map to enlarge.

Boston, MA – Mitt Romney today announced the support of additional Oklahoma leaders.

“I am pleased to have so much support from so many in Oklahoma,” said Mitt Romney. “Their hard work will be necessary to defeat President Obama in November, put in place policies that work for the American people, and bring back economic prosperity to Oklahoma and the rest of the country.”

Announcing his support, former Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Steve Edwards said, “The top goals for conservatives in Oklahoma and across the country are to defeat President Obama and put in place a pro-growth agenda that will reverse the failed policies of the last three years. In Mitt Romney, we have a man with the leadership experience and bold economic plan to both defeat President Obama and put our country on the right track again. I am proud to announce my support and encourage all Oklahomans looking for a different direction in Washington to support Mitt Romney on Tuesday.”

Oklahoma leaders endorsing Mitt Romney:

Steve Edwards, Former Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman
Forrest Claunch, Former State Representative, Conservative Advocate
Carol Hefner, Oklahoma County Conservative activist

Previous Oklahoma endorsements:

Senator Tom Coburn
Senator Don Nickles
Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett
Governor Frank Keating
State Treasure Ken Miller
State Auditor Gary Jones
Former Speaker of the House Todd Hiett
State Senator Brian Crain
State Representative Paul Wesselhoft
State Representative Guy Liebmann
State Representative Lee Denney
State Representative Dan Sullivan
State Representative Earl Sears
Harold Hamm, CEO, Continental Resources
Francis Rooney, US Ambassador
Jim Dunlap, Former House Majority Leader
Dan Keating
Former State Representative Thad Balkman
Lynn Windel, Former National Committeeman
Ryan Leonard, Former Candidate for Attorney General
Doug Gorman, Businessman/Activist
GOP Activist Virginia Chrisco

Read more…

Today, social and fiscal conservative Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn penned a strong op-ed supporting Romney. GOP Representatives (32 of them!) in Massachusetts and Alaska Lt. Gov Mead Treadwell also issued well-muscled letters of support. Eric Cantor also stepped up to the plate for Romney.

It’s clear.

They all believe Romney’s years of private sector work and leadership skills seal the deal. Unquestionably, they feel Romney is ready to be wrapped in the presidential mantle.

★ UPDATE - Add former First Lady Barbara Bush’s name to the list. She recorded a robo call message for Mitt that is playing throughout Vermont:

★ Senator Coburn:

“I’m proud to support Romney because he is a leader. What Romney has done in his 25 years in the private sector is precisely what we need a president to do in Washington. Romney has done hard things. He has turned businesses around, told people hard truths about what needed to be done, inspired confidence and overcome excuses.”

Mitt Romney Best Equipped To Solve Problems Facing Our Nation
By Sen. Tom Coburn
The Oklahoman
March 4, 2012

Sen Tom Coburn

America faces the greatest challenges of any in my lifetime. Our debt is now the size of our entire economy. If we don’t change course in the near future, we will face an economic catastrophe far worse than our recent recession.

At the same time, we’re facing a crisis of leadership in Washington. The problems and solutions are widely understood — and far from impossible to implement — yet our so-called leaders have shown little interest in solving problems. President Obama campaigned as a transformational leader, yet he has rejected transformational solutions such as the Simpson-Bowles plan that gave Washington a framework for averting a debt crisis.

Elections are about choices. This November, the most important choice facing the American people will be whether we will demand a solution and avert a debt crisis or whether we will continue to accept the status quo and hope for the best. I’m confident the vast majority of Americans on both sides of the aisle want a solution. The next choice, then, is deciding who is best qualified to enact a solution.

In life, and especially politics, our choices are seldom perfect and often difficult. But it is critically important to make a choice and support the person who is best equipped to solve the urgent problems before us. In my view, that person is Mitt Romney.

From my experience, Washington tends to be divided between two groups — leaders and career politicians. Leaders tend to have a wealth of real-world experience outside of politics and are in office to give rather than take something from their position. Career politicians, on the other hand, mean well but are ill-equipped to solve problems. Their greatest skill is getting re-elected.

Continue reading here.

★ From Romney’s Press Office – MA Republican Reps (32 signatures!):

If Mitt gets to the White House and has a chance to do for the country what he did for Massachusetts, we will see a turnaround in this country unlike any we have seen before.

Massachusetts Republican Representatives Stand with Mitt

Click on map to enlarge.

Over the course of this election season, we members of the Massachusetts Republican Legislative Caucus, have watched and listened as our former Governor’s record has been scrutinized by his rivals and by the national media. Now it is our turn to speak.

Republicans in Massachusetts never had a stronger leader, a greater defender, or a better friend in the State House than Mitt Romney.

Let’s start with the economy. When Mitt was elected Governor, Massachusetts was on the verge of financial disaster. Workers across the state were being laid off at the rate of thousands a month.

Our state budget was bleeding red ink, and Democratic politicians were proclaiming that only tax increases could fill the gap. Raising taxes, of course, was not Governor Romney’s way. Quite the opposite. With the same energy and intelligence he brings to every challenge he faces, he brought efficiency to our state government. He streamlined our budget and cut unneeded programs.

Without raising taxes—indeed, he cut taxes nineteen times—he balanced the budget every year of his term. By the end of four years, he had turned a $3 billion deficit into a $2 billion rainy-day fund. With the state government’s finances in order, the economy picked up steam. Unemployment at the end of Mitt’s term was 4.7 percent, a rate the state envies now.

But the economy was not the only realm where Mitt was a leader. He cracked down on illegal immigration by vetoing an in-state tuition bill and by authorizing state troopers to detain people who had entered the country illegally. When Democrats caved to the teachers unions and sought to impose a one-year moratorium on publicly-funded charter schools, Mitt successfully turned back their efforts.

Read more…

Following a rock-solid win in Washington state last night and fresh off Michigan and Arizona victories, the good news leading to Super Tuesday continues for Governor Mitt Romney. He received a key endorsement this morning…

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) says Romney is the only candidate who has come out with a bold pro-growth, pro-jobs plan for the future:

Eric Cantor - Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives

Cantor announced his endorsement two days before his home state, Virginia, is set to hold its primary. Romney is a strong favorite in the state, because Ron Paul is the only other candidate who managed to qualify for the ballot.

“I cast my vote already in Virginia for Mitt Romney and I’m here today to tell you that I’m endorsing Mitt Romney in his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States,” Cantor said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday morning.

“Who’s going to best be able to lead this economy back to a growth mode, create jobs so people can feel better about the future,” he added. “And I just think there’s one candidate in the race who can do that, and that’s Mitt Romney.”

Cantor personally called Romney last week, the day after the former Massachusetts governor won the Michigan and Arizona primaries, to say he would publicly support Romney, said Eric Fehrnstrom, a Romney senior adviser told reporters traveling aboard the candidate’s plane Sunday morning en route to Atlanta.

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom weighed in:

“Republicans want coat tails, not concrete shoes,” Fehrnstrom said. “Rick Santorum is a concrete shoe for Republicans who are running for the Senate or for the House. . .He didn’t say it, but I’ve got to believe that in the back of Eric Cantor’s mind is maintaining the Republican majority in the House. I think it’s easier to do that with Mitt Romney at the top of the ticket as our strongest possible jobs candidate.

Stressing the importance and historical nature of the upcoming presidential election, Cantor firmly believes Romney can beat Obama next fall. Continue reading here.

Romney is backed by 16 U.S. senators, 67 House members, and 10 governors. Ron Paul has the backing of one senator… Rand Paul. Gingrich has the backing of one governor – Rick Perry.

Now, that’s political pudding filled with plenty of proof for which candidate is most respected and trusted!

► Jayde Wyatt

What is the connection between Rick Santorum, Arlen Specter, Obamacare and the difference made by ONE VOTE?

Governor Mitt Romney adroitly underscored a very revealing part of Rick Santorum’s political history during CNN’s GOP presidential debate Wednesday evening in Mesa, Arizona…

In 2004, while serving in the United States Senate, Santorum supported and campaigned for incumbent, liberal Senator Arlen Specter over conservative challenger Pat Toomey. Specter would later go on to cast the ONE VOTE DIFFERENCE – the vote that enabled the passage of Obamacare.

Yesterday, FOX News’ Megyn Kelly (host of America Live) conducted a post-CNN debate focus group. Among the debate segments she aired was the one vote difference exchange between Santorum and Romney. The entire video is worth viewing (the general consensus was thumbs-up for Romney!). Note the conversation @ :50 – 1:08:

A look back:

In 2004, conservative Congressman Patrick Joseph Toomey ran for the senate seat in the Pennsylvania primary race against fellow-Republican incumbent Senator Arlen Specter. Toomey’s campaign focused on Specter’s well known non-conservative leanings – especially on fiscal issues. Rick Santorum not only supported Specter, he appeared in a television ad for him. Santorum’s support for Specter proved crucial. In the end, although election results were close, Toomey lost the Republican primary to Specter.

How calamitous was Specter’s victory?

In April 2009, with the Tea Party movement in full swing, Senator Specter sensed he would be defeated at the polls. Working closely and covertly with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Obama was licking his chops), Specter switched political parties. He became a Democrat. In the process, he rewarded liberals with a likely filibuster-proof Senate majority – a 60th vote.

Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum way back when...

They’re nothing if not prompt. Voting has begun on HR 3590, the Senate’s health care bill. It only needs 50 votes to pass; the only suspense is whether or not it will receive all 60 Democratic votes. C-SPAN is using the special running tally it reserves for important votes.

That’s it. Arlen Specter, the former Republican, secures the 50th vote needed for passage.

When Specter won in 2004, given his history, it was easy to predict that he would vote with Democrats on key issues. Had Pat Toomey won in 2004, Democrats wouldn’t have garnered a 60th vote in 2009. Obamacare would not have passed.

Santorum actively labored to defeat Toomey.

More…

Read more…