M&M.

Signaling further party consolidation, both big name GOP Mitch-es say “It’s Mmmitt!”

Governor Daniels from Indiana and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have endorsed Governor Romney:

Governor Mitch Daniels

Announcing his support, Governor Mitch Daniels said, “Mitt Romney has earned our party’s nomination and now deserves the support of every American still committed to government that serves the people rather than rules over them. The ruinous debts and anti-enterprise policies of today threaten more than our near-term economy; unaddressed soon, they will end the promise of upward mobility that our nation has always offered to its young and its poor. And they will end the U.S. leadership which has promoted peace and progress around the world for so many decades. Mitt Romney has proven that he understands what is at stake and is prepared to summon Americans to the changes that will restore the American Dream and our national greatness. I’ll do whatever I’m asked to help him.”

“Governor Daniels’ leadership and service in Indiana should be an example to public officials across the country,” said Mitt Romney. “Governor Daniels shares my background in business, and he has used the principles of the private sector in government. Indiana has been served well by his leadership based on fiscal discipline, smaller government, and a friendly environment for job creators. I am honored to have his support and look forward to working with him to fix our economy and get our country on the right track.”

Background On Governor Daniels:
Governor Daniels was elected as the 49th Governor of Indiana in 2004. Governor Daniels was reelected in 2008 and received the most votes for a statewide official in Indiana history. Prior to his election, Governor Daniels served as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush, CEO of the Hudson Institute, President of Eli Lilly and Company’s North American Pharmaceutical Operations, Chief of Staff to Senator Dick Lugar, and Senior Advisor to President Ronald Reagan.

Self-deprecating Daniels appeared on FOX & Friends this morning to make his announcement. Here’s a portion of the interview (if full video becomes available, it will be posted):

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
April 17, 2012

Joining other top Republican officials, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for president on Tuesday, saying the GOP is united behind the presumptive nominee.

Earlier this month, McConnell avoided giving Romney the nod because the Kentucky primary was approaching. But with former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum dropping out of the race—and basement candidates Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul barely campaigning—the pathway for Romney to gain the nomination against President Obama is much clearer.
[...]
“I support Governor Romney for President of the United States and he is going to be the nominee,” he told reporters. “If you’ve noticed, the party is in the process of unifying behind him. And I think it’s going to be an incredibly close, hard fought race.”

“I think it’s going to be a very, very competitive election. We’re all behind him [Romney] and looking forward to the fall campaign, which is actually already under way.” ~ Mitch McConnell

Thank you Mitch and Mitch!

It’s getting sweeter day by day.

► Jayde Wyatt

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL)

Congressman Aaron Schock, from the Prairie State, likes Mitt Romney’s “conservative solutions” to end deficit spending and get Americans back to work. As a result, Schlock has endorsed Governor Romney:

Boston, MA – Mitt Romney [has] announced the support of Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock.

“In order to improve our financial standing, we must get spending under control,” said Mitt Romney. “Congressman Schock has been a leader in the fight to reduce government spending. I am proud to have his endorsement and look forward to working with him to reduce our burdensome debt.”

Announcing his support, Congressman Schock said, “Mitt Romney has a record of cutting spending and keeping taxes low that needs to be replicated in Washington. Under President Obama, our national debt has skyrocketed and our prized AAA credit rating has been lost. Mitt Romney has the conservative solutions needed to get Washington off its spending addiction and focused on creating jobs.”

Background On Congressman Aaron Schock:

Congressman Aaron Schock Was Elected To The U.S. House In 2008 And Serves The 18th District Of Illinois. In Congress, he serves on the Ways and Means Committee. Prior to his election, Congressman Schock was a member of the Illinois Legislature and the PeoriaSchool Board. Congressman Schock is the youngest member of the U.S. House Of Representatives.

Romney continues to organize in Kentucky:

Boston, MA – Mitt Romney today announced his Kentucky State Finance Chairs, Joe Craft and Kelly Knight.

“I am proud to announce my Kentucky State Finance Chairs,” said Mitt Romney. “Kelly and Joe’s help will be essential in securing the resources necessary to defeat President Obama in 2012. Kentucky has been hit hard by President Obama’s failed economic leadership. Voters there and across the country are looking for a president who will not only bring back jobs and restore economic growth but also get serious about energy independence and take advantage of our country’s coal resources, which is especially important in Kentucky. Kelly and Joe’s support will be essential to spreading my message to turn around our struggling economy.”

Background on Kentucky State Finance Chairs:

Kelly Knight served as the United States Public Delegate for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly and was appointed by President George W. Bush to that post in 2007. Currently, she is the Chairman of a strategic management firm. An active member of her community, Knight serves on the Board of The Salvation Army of Lexington.

Joe Craft is president, chief executive officer, and a director of Alliance Resource Partners, the fourth largest coal producer in the eastern United States. He also serves as president, chief executive officer, and Chairman of the Board of Alliance Holdings GP. Craft is a director for Bank of Oklahoma and Tulsa Community Foundation.

► Jayde Wyatt

Autumn frames the bluegrass as thoroghbred horses graze in a pasture at Donamire horse farm near Lexington, Kentucky. Hal Rogers and Ed Whitfield, Congressmen from the Bluegrass State, have endorsed Mitt Romney.

As we begin a new week, the endorsements for Governor Romney continue.

From the Bluegrass State…

Mitt Romney has announced the endorsements of Kentucky Congressmen Hal Rogers and Ed Whitfield.

“I am proud to announce the support of Congressmen Hal Rogers and Ed Whitfield,” said Mitt Romney. “They share my goals of lessening the regulatory burden on small business and getting our exploding deficits under control. They also share my goal of making our country energy independent. I look forward to working with them to help ensure Kentucky’s leading role in providing energy and jobs for our country.”

“Governor Romney is the right man for the job in the White House,” said Congressman Hal Rogers. “We need proven leadership to get our economy back on track and spur real job creation in the Commonwealth. At the hands of President Obama, Kentucky has been besieged by burdensome red-tape, out-of-control bureaucracies, and ill-advised bailouts left to our children to finance. Kentucky and our country cannot afford to continue on this path. Instead, Mitt Romney has laid out a comprehensive economic plan that gets Main Street rolling again, lessens the tax burden on working families and encourages small business growth and innovation to create real, private sector jobs. His successful business and government experience leave Mitt well prepared to tackle the economic and security challenges ahead. I am proud to support him.”

Announcing his support, Congressman Ed Whitfield said, “At a time when our economy is struggling, we need a serious leader who understands how to grow the private sector, not the government. President Obama’s job-killing regulations have failed to get millions of unemployed Americans back to work. From his time as a businessman, Mitt Romney knows what it takes to create jobs and economic growth. As Governor of Massachusetts, he applied his conservative free market principles to government and it worked: he was able to balance the budget without raising taxes, leaving office with a sizable Rainy Day Fund. Washington needs this kind of leadership today.”

(emphasis added)

Background On Representatives Rogers and Whitfield:

Congressman Hal Rogers Represents Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District. Rogers has served since 1981 and serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. During his time in Congress, Rogers has been one of the foremost advocates forAppalachia.

Congressman Ed Whitfield Represents Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District. First elected in 1994, he serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Prior to entering Congress, Whitfield served in the Kentucky House of Representatives and in the U.S. Army Reserves. He also practiced law and was Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

We’re happy to have Congressmen Rogers and Whitfield on board!

► Jayde Wyatt