U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) will endorse Mitt Romney today. 11/23/11

It’s another big endorsement for Mitt Romney today – U.S. Senator John Thune:

Mitt Romney will pick up a national-level endorsement in Des Moines this morning when U.S. Sen. John Thune accompanies him on a presidential campaign visit, Romney aides told The Des Moines Register.

Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, made waves in 2004 by defeating incumbent Tom Daschle, who was the Democrats’ leader in the Senate. Earlier this year, his name was floated as a possible presidential contender, but he declined to run.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and national front-runner for the Republicans’ presidential nomination, said in a prepared statement that he was grateful for Thune’s support.

“On the issues that I have been fighting for in my campaign – creating a better business environment, lessening the regulatory burden, and ending Washington’s spending addiction – Senator Thune has been a leading voice in the Senate,” Romney said.

Thune’s accompanying statement stressed Romney’s ability to deal with economic troubles. “Mitt Romney has shown throughout his life in the private sector, as leader of the Olympics, as governor, and in this campaign that he will not back down from difficult challenges. His plans to revitalize the private sector and restore our country’s fiscal health are drawn from his 25 year career as a conservative businessman.”

Christopher Rants, a former Iowa House speaker from Sioux City, said Thune is widely respected as an articulate conservative. “I think that’s a great endorsement whether it’s here or elsewhere,” he said. “Thune may be a little bit better known in northwest Iowa than, say, Dubuque or Muscatine, but the reality is that Thune’s an up-and-comer, rising star in the party, period.” …

(emphasis added)

We love this endorsement. Thanks, Senator Thune!

Governor Romney is in Iowa today:

8:00 AM – Meeting with supporters
Des Moines, Iowa

9:30 AM – Speaking to employees at Nationwide Insurance
1100 Locust St., Des Moines, Iowa
12:30 PM

► Jayde Wyatt

Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the 105th annual Chamber of Commerce meeting was Mitt Romney’s destination yesterday. He delivered the keynote address before a friendly audience of nearly 2,000 attendees:

Romney: U.S. can fix its problems
Candidate talks politics at Chamber meeting
Oct. 19, 2011

The United States faces significant burdens, but the country has overcome past challenges by believing in itself and American exceptionalism, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Wednesday.

Counting the national debt and the nation’s entitlement programs, the country has obligations of $62 trillion. Meanwhile, the United States faces foreign challenges from Iran, China and a resurgent Russia.

Even so, Romney said he’s optimistic about the country’s future.be

“I believe in free enterprise and capitalism,” he said. “I believe in America.”
[...]
Romney praised business but did not talk specifically about his own experiences, which include founding investment firm Bain Capital, which is credited with launching or rebuilding hundreds of companies, including Staples, Domino’s Pizza and The Sports Authority.

He did compare his experience in the private sector with his four-year stint as governor. When businesses make a mistake, people lose their jobs and get hurt, he said. When governments make mistakes, they blame the other political party. Governments should encourage incentives on taxes, regulations and energy policy, but the people in government often don’t understand how to do that.

Romney did not address President Obama by name, but he criticized the president, saying almost everything he’s done in office has “made it more difficult for business to grow and thrive.” The health care overhaul, proposals to make it easier to form unions, financial reform and a cap-and-trade energy proposal have created uncertainty, and businesses won’t invest when there’s uncertainty, he said.

“This economy has had a hard time rebooting because Washington doesn’t understand that it’s not the answer, it’s the problem,” he said, a line that drew applause.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – … “There is a love of America and a passion for this country that burns in the hearts of our citizens,” said Romney to a crowd of nearly 2,000. “The great challenges we have we will overcome if we can draw on that passion and conviction of the greatness and goodness of America.

“And we have leaders who will tell the truth and live with integrity, and who by virtue of their life experiences know how to lead and where to lead America,” he said. “And I very much want to be one of those leaders, with your help.”

Parra, who won both silver and gold medals in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, for which Romney served as the CEO of the organizing committee, was a staple of Romney’s repertoire during his last bid for the White House. Parra has been a longtime supporter of Romney’s and has already contributed money to the former Massachusetts’ governor’s presidential campaign this cycle.

Tonight, Romney recounted the story of when he chose Parra to be one of eight athletes to carry into the opening ceremony the American flag that had been at Ground Zero during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Parra later told Romney that it was the most meaningful moments of his Olympic games.

“I’ve seen throughout my life the power of the American spirit,” said Romney.

(emphasis added )

Before Romney delivered his speech he met with SD Governor Dennis Daugaard, his chief of staff Dusty Johnson, and Daugaard’s Commissioner for Economic Development Pat Costello.

► Jayde Wyatt