(CNN) – Former presidential candidate Michele Bachmann threw her support behind Mitt Romney on Thursday.
Standing on stage with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee at an event in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Minnesota congresswoman said she was there to "lend my voice and my endorsement to Mitt Romney as our president to take the county back."
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Bachmann invoked rhetoric she used frequently on the campaign trail and urged voters to limit President Barack Obama to one term in the White House.
"There is no question in my mind Americans will go to the polls and they’ll be saying `Mr. President you’re fired!’ and instead we will soundly stand for someone who believes in America," Bachmann said to loud cheers.
She pointed to what she called one of the biggest factors in the election –energy– and argued Romney would be the best leader to further tap into domestic resources.
"Mitt Romney’s future for America would be a legalization of American energy, a legalization of millions of high paying jobs," Bachmann said.
As she stepped aside for Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to take the stage, Romney offered a gesture of approval.
"Beautifully done," he told her.
But the congresswoman hasn't always had kind words for her former opponent. Prior to ending her presidential bid in early January– shortly after a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses– Bachmann took several shots at Romney over the healthcare law he passed as Massachusetts governor.
"This is the seminal issue of Barack Obama's presidency. And this is the chief liability that Mitt Romney has going into the presidential race," Bachmann said in an interview with CNN on January 1.
She added: "He is the only governor in the history of the United States that has put into place socialized medicine in his state. And that's going to be our nominee to stand up against president Obama?"
The congresswoman, however, has repeatedly said in recent weeks it was only a matter of time before she would officially Romney.
As a candidate, Bachmann initially ran with large tea party appeal, frequently bucking what she described as the more establishment faction of the party that Romney represented.
Her endorsement comes weeks after former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum dropped out of the race, a move that essentially locked up the nomination for Romney.
Asked repeatedly why she was holding out in her support for Romney, Bachmann would not go into specifics but said she was working "behind the scenes, bringing together all factions of our party."
"As the line says in the 'Wizard of Oz,' 'All in good time, my pretty,'" Bachmann said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" last week. "It will happen."
National Review first reported the news of Bachmann's upcoming endorsement.
– CNN's Jim Acosta, Peter Hamby and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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Michelle Bachmann is hilarious! Sorta a dingier Sarah Palin with equally bad makeup. Her endorsement does not mean a darned thing as her supporters are dumber than a bucket of hair.
Noot and bachmann! That should pretty well guarantee the potus spot for mittens.
Oh yeah, I am sure this is the endorsement he was waiting for. I am sure this is that key endorsement that will kickstart his candidacy and give him the push he needs to win.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
She fires up the rubes in Iowa for Mitt McCain. What do the teabaggers think?
This must be the clinical definition of dumb and dunber.
Of course she endorses Romney. What other Repug is she going to endorse? Her endorsement form looked like this...
Please select the presidential candidate you wish to endorse:
A – Mitt Romney
B – Mitt Romney
C – Mitt Romney
D – Any of the above
This is the empty suit with 4 digits and an opposable thumb the GOP has been dreaming of. A man who will accept any ideals or ideas you throw at him, provided he does not have to be responsible for anything. Pathetic that this is what leadership has become in the Party of Lincoln and Reagan. What a joke.
More like the kiss of death...
At the end of her endorsement Michelle Bachman states Cuckoo, Cukoo.
Of course she endorsed him. Who else is she going to endorse? Her endorsement form looked like this...
Please select the presidential candidate you wish to endorse:
A – Mitt Romney
B – Mitt Romney
C – Mitt Romney
D – Any of the above
Best thing that could happen for Obama.
Didn't every single Republican Candidate say Romney wasn't qualified to be President and could not beat Obama? I guess those are 2 things they all said right.
"lend my voice and my endorsement to Mitt Romney as our president to take the county back."
I get so sick and tired of this line "take the country back". What the hell are you taking it back from? It hasn't been taken anywhere therefore there is nothing to take back. Do you realize how stupid and infantile you idiots sound repeating this Repukeican talking point? And to lend your voice to Romney. He has enough things to overcome he doesn't need your screechy whiney voice too.
What is with those smiles? They need to go to acting school.
Romney's credibility just went down by half.
Mittens just fired an aide for being gay and Bachmann is apparently unaware that her husband is gay. We're talking sitcom here!
Not too long ago she was telling the country that Gov. Romney could not defeat President Obama in a General election. She also accused Gov. Romeny of Flip-Floing. Who's Flip-Floping now?!
What a waste of news space!
Who else would she endorse? She seems to claim (per other news sources) that this endorsement will unifiy the GOP. What arrogance she has because she believes she can unite a political party. She sounds more foolish than before.
First of all, the Wicked Witch of the West comparison is apt; thanks for sparing us the trouble, Michele.
Second I would bring to your attention this gem from last year: "Mitt Romney will never be able to beat Barack Obama"–Michele Bachmann
Bachman may be the kiss of death for Romney. She is crazier than a psychopathic pig.
What a shocking headline!
Bachmann on Romney
“No, he cannot beat Obama because his policy is the basis for Obamacare,” Bachmann said. “The signature issue of Obama is Obamacare. You can’t have a candidate who has given the blueprint for Obamacare. It’s too identical. It’s not going to happen. We have to have a candidate, a bold distinct candidate in the likeness of Ronald Reagan.”
Land of Flip-Floppers...
All the Democrats need to do is make a compilation video showing all the GOP candidates railing against Romney with all the negative things they have against him.
Michelle Bachmann is an IDIOT!
hold the press and hold your nose