Cape Canaveral, Florida (CNN) - Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno has endorsed Mitt Romney, in a boon to the GOP candidate's efforts to woo Florida's Latino voters ahead of Tuesday's primary.
Puerto Rico's top official will campaign with Romney at an event Friday evening in Orlando.
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Earlier in the day, Romney said he would support a move by Puerto Rico towards statehood, and referenced Fortuno's "passionate" support for that process.
"I expect the people of Puerto Rico will decide, like he feels, to become a state," Romney told a cheering audience at the Hispanic Leadership Network conference. "I can tell you that I will work with him that if that vote comes out in favor of statehood we will go through the process in Washington to provide statehood to Puerto Rico."
Puerto Rican voters will weigh in on a referendum regarding possible statehood in November.
In a statement, Fortuno, who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate, said Romney had shown his private sector record "can be applied to all challenges."
"Mitt Romney is the one candidate who has the record, leadership, experience, and pro-growth plan to continue the course of private-sector job creation we've begun in Puerto Rico and provide economic stability for generations," Fortuno said in a statement.
Puerto Rico's Republican caucuses will be held March 18, when 23 delegates are at stake. However, Puerto Rico is not allocated any electoral votes in November's election.
The announcement would clearly be a disappointment to some - at Thursday's CNN Florida Republican Presidential Debate, another candidate, Rick Santorum, cited his friendship with Fortuno.
"I will give a shout-out to Governor Luis Fortuno, who is a good friend of mine," Santorum said. "I know him and his family, we have known each other for many years, we actually used to go to church together."
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First of all he's not mexican.Puerto Ricans should decide if they want statehood.If it does occur and they do become the 51 state,awesome. Then the mexicans will be demanding amnesty for ALL OF THEM.So the choice of statehood has been put on hold because of the mexicans.Like the liberals yu can't hurt their feelings.The statehood option will always be put on hold,you'll see.He's just trying to get the puerto ricans and cubans to vote for Mitt.The governor is saying yes there are latinos who are conservatives and don't be afraid to vote that way.
►Puerto Rico gov backs Romney
Romney acting like a “gecko” again – blending with the seas
He changes his tune to agree with whatever is at stake
And he had the nerve to say ginGRINCH was being a fake
He must have gotten promised something. Puerto Rico surely will not get the billions in federal aid under Repubs that the island is currently enjoying.
Romney has a long, long history of success in family, church, business and government as a turn-around artist. He uses a group of advisors as a brain trust to solve intractible problems. This opposed to Newt Gingrich who has an idea a minute and believes he has all the answers.
This nation needs Romney to boot the Marxist parasite that is now in office.
Obama is a rich person! ...what an idiot!
Obumbles is a divisive prsident preaching class-warfare!! ...can this idiot do any more damage to our country than he already has?