Mitt Romney Scores Endorsement From South Dakota Senator John Thune

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney plans to announce on Wednesday the endorsement of Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), The Associated Press reported. Romney aides also confirmed the endorsement.

"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," Thune said in a statement. "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."

Thune has been a rising star in the Republican Party since winning his seat in 2004 by defeating Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. He had been weighing a White House bid of his own earlier this year before opting to stay in the Senate, the 2012 Iowa Caucuses blog reported.

"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 will appear with the former Massachusetts governor in Des Moines to make the official announcement.

Romney has scored several key endorsements this week, including Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Rep. Charlie Bass (R-N.H.). The presidential candidate is reportedly considering choosing Ayotte to be his running mate. Bass was named a national adviser to the campaign.

Comments

[StopTeaGOP]

06:30 AM on 11/24/2011

Why is John Thune considered such a big shot by the author of this article? Is it simply because he considered to run for president? Anybody like Bachmann can run. He is known only in SD and has accomplished nothing noteworthy in Congress.

[iLdoRight]

07:37 PM on 11/23/2011

Caption suggestion; " Oh Lord, If You Give Me This I'll Convert To Christianity ! "

[Clevelandinwi]

02:54 PM on 11/23/2011

The 'senator' from South Dakota? Wow!! There must be big time celebrating in romney world. tune wants to be VP, too.

[butlercaddie]

02:42 PM on 11/23/2011

Yeah, SD electoral votes are MASSIVE!

[phal4875]

01:33 PM on 11/23/2011

Now that Romney has the backing of John Thune, he needs almost nothing else. It might help if John Thune were known by as many as one American out of twenty, but 5% is better than nothing.

[PassingBy]

12:13 PM on 11/23/2011

I don't know if this matters much. I would guess something is owed, or a debt being settled.
Something for nothing is not likely with these folks.

[RepublicanDepression]

11:09 AM on 11/23/2011

Why would Thune endorse a proven LIAR?

The press needs to ask him that.

[lancedaboil]

10:41 AM on 11/23/2011

Mitt continues to surround himself with George W Bush People, so a vote for Mitt is a vote to bring back the Bush Years.

[wikwox]

09:57 AM on 11/23/2011

Thune counts for nothing with the GOP primary voter, but it is a sign that the Republicans are beginning to coalesce around Romney. At least those of a non Tea Party persuasion.

[phal4875]

01:34 PM on 11/23/2011

Fanned. I think you made the relevant point: Romney is starting to be seen by many as inevitable - sort of like death and taxes.

[Prelldarunner]

09:46 AM on 11/23/2011

If this is a big endorsement, then I hate to see what the other candidates will do to match it. Come on no one even knows who this fellow is, now if you would have said Graham from SC or The Speaker of the House just endorsed Mitt then that is big, b/c people know who they are and they have a bit of power in Congress.

[phal4875]

01:36 PM on 11/23/2011

Wait a minute, Prelldarunner; John Thune is a pretty big name in the Dakotas and Nebraska. When he explored his own run for president this year, his polling showed him ahead of "No Preference."

[fineartgalaxy]

09:44 AM on 11/23/2011

The GOP is allowing unqualified, inconsequential and cheap-reality-show-like-candidates to run for office. And just because the GOP thinks voters had it with Obama. We may have had it with Obama, but that does not mean our integrity and intelligence has been compromised.

[phal4875]

01:38 PM on 11/23/2011

Fanned. Very wise post. As a former big Obama supporter, I have been disappointed with my choice. He is, however, still much more palatable that any Republican - even Huntsman.

[cpadmitchell]

09:25 AM on 11/23/2011

All this while the leading conservatives in Iowa are attempting to find a way to nominate some one closer to their narrow view of the world? Mitt has destroyed companies to the benefit of the financial world while leaving thousands without jobs as Mitt got a huge pay day. This is what makes the world go around and create wealth for a very few.

[IllinoisObama]

09:24 AM on 11/23/2011

ha-thune reputation is the dumbest man in the senate- great endorsement

[phal4875]

01:39 PM on 11/23/2011

There are so many other good choices for that honor. He must be proud.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

09:20 AM on 11/23/2011

Mitt Romney Scores Endorsement From South Dakota Senator John Thune .....

WOW..........that's huge..........who is this nobody BOZO from the frozen north?.....

[phal4875]

01:40 PM on 11/23/2011

Sen. Thune is a great man. I believe he said so himself.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

08:09 PM on 11/23/2011

And he listens?

[kmswriter]

09:08 AM on 11/23/2011

Mittens needs more than this tune - oops I mean thune.....