January 08, 2007
DeMint To Endorse Romney
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) plans to endorse Gov. Mitt Romney as early as tomorrow, a Republican formally briefed on the announcement said. DeMint's endorsement would be Romney's most significant political catch in the pivotal state of South Carolina, where Sen. John McCain has managed to corral the lion's share of would-be GOP endorsers and much of the state party's financial establishment.
DeMint's endorsement puts him at odds with Sen. Lindsey Graham, a long-time McCain supporter. It's not surprising -- DeMint sent Republicans a letter in late September urging them to cool their jets before picking an '08 candidate. He was worried that too many Republicans signed onto McCain's bid too quickly and mostly out of fear that if they did not, they would offend the race's acknowledged frontrunner.
DeMint's endorsement makes South Carolina the first early primary state where the three top statewide office holders -- two senators and governor -- have made their '08 preferences known. (Gov. Mark Sanford hasn't formally endorsed McCain, but he backed him in '00).
In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch is a Democrat; Sen. John Sununu will not endorse in the primary, and Sen. Judd Gregg is said to be in Romney's camp, although his aides deny that he has picked his '08 candidate yet. In Iowa, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) hasn't said whether he'll endorse.. [MARC AMBINDER]
Posted at 06:18 PM
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