(CNN) – There was no press conference, no television cameras, no reporters and it didn't even arrive when the sun was up.
Instead, Rick Santorum's endorsement of presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney came in paragraph 13 in an email to supporters at approximately 11 p.m. Monday night.
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"We both agree that President Obama must be defeated. The task will not be easy. It will require all hands on deck if our nominee is to be victorious," Santorum wrote. "Governor Romney will be that nominee and he has my endorsement and support to win this the most critical election of our lifetime."
With that, Santorum became the latest former rival to back Romney and the latest former rival to do so in a lukewarm fashion. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich offered a far from ringing endorsement of Romney during a press conference last week, during which he painted the frontrunner as a positive alternative to President Barack Obama.
Santorum said he waited to make an endorsement until he could meet with Romney in person. The two met privately Friday in Pittsburgh.
"I felt that it was completely impossible for me to even consider an endorsement until after a meeting to discuss issues critical to those of us who often feel our voices are not heard by the establishment: social conservatives, tea-party supporters, lower and middle income working families," Santorum wrote.
However, he did not say whether he planned to join Romney on the stump before the November election.
Santorum enjoyed support from more conservative voting blocs as well as members those supportive of the grassroots tea party movement during the primary campaign, which helped him place first in 11 early contest states. In Monday's letter, Santorum said he encouraged Romney to "add more conservative leaders as an integral part of his team."
The former Pennsylvania senator said the contentious 2012 campaign proved he and the former Massachusetts governor "have some differences," but also areas in which they agree, including over the need for smaller government, opposition to abortion and the belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman.
One of the biggest gripes Santorum had on the campaign trail with Romney was the health care law he passed while governor of Massachusetts, but in Monday's note Santorum said he no longer doubts Romney's opposition to the current national health care law.
"While I had concerns about Governor Romney making a case as a candidate about fighting against Obamacare, I have no doubt if elected he will work with a Republican Congress to repeal it and replace it with a bottom up, patient, not government, driven system," Santorum wrote.
Romney expressed "sincere gratitude" for Santorum's endorsement and said his "commitment to conservatism energized millions of Republicans around the country," in a statement released Tuesday.
"Senator Santorum and I share an absolute commitment to that goal, just as we share an absolute commitment to reversing the failing policies of the Obama Administration, from its assault on freedom of conscience to its feckless foreign policy," Romney said.
Also see:
Soros donates $1 million to liberal super PAC
From CNN Politics
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Of course he endorsed Romney he was probably promised something, i.e., cabinet post! But who knows there is no love lost between the two these guys!
Nice, more special endorsements on the plate of Romney coming by special styles. Way to go. November can't come fast enough!
Now Mitt has the support of nearly all of his bashers, whackoes. Wasn't it Rick who advised us that we would be better off re-electing the Prez over Romney? My guess is the best he could do was e-mail after learning Romney has no place for him in the future. I can't wait for Romney to select Virginia's own Bob "rape by government" McDonnell.
Well if you were holding out for a reason to not vote for Romney, there you go.
So the endorsement isnt 'he is the best man for the job' but 'anyone else but the current guy'.
Too funny.
What a surprise.
From the article – The former Pennsylvania senator said the contentious 2012 campaign proved he and the former Massachusetts governor "have some differences," but also areas in which they agree including over the need for smaller government, opposition to abortion and the belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman.”
So smaller government except when it comes to one’s s*x life…
Obama 2012 – Because he cares about what matters.
Wow...from Mittens being the worst choice for President according to Santorum to endorsing him! What a love fest. The sincerity is stifling.
Well, it was a very close and highly dramatic primary race. Not.
Tepid and shameful. Par for the course
Does this even mean anything? The crazy guy endorses the non-human... who cares?
"Mitt Romney is the WORST Republican we could run against Barrack Obama"......so of course the so-called endorsement would be via e-mail in the darkness of the night.
Republicans will say or do anything to protect their corprate clients at our exspense. Romnycare or obamacare is the same . Who needs health care ,romney and republican clowns don't ,they use their government health benifets and should be stripped of them and any other gov benifets.
You gotta love these Repugs... I mean, the Grand Obstructionist Party candidates have been beating the cr_ud out of each other for months and months in the hopes of getting the "nod". Now that the lackluster front-runner has all but won, the cannon fodder is lining up behind to pay homage (and maybe some bills). No matter, as the hypocrisy party has no candidate, no platform, no integrity, no family values, and no chance in Nov.
"It is imperative to defeat Obama. The Lord in his infinite wisdom has selected Mitt Romney to be the means to do that. It is not for me to question the Lord's stupid decisions."
This has been a test of the Tepid Endorsement System. This is only a test. Had this been a REAL endorsement, you would have seen some enthusiasm."
In an email? Not even a phone call or a televised interview?
An email? In paragraph 13? Talk about a ringing endorsement!! Not that I would personally want any kind of endorsement from frothy.
He had to do it by email so no one could see him holding his nose. Anyway, why would anyone want the endorsement from someone who couldn't even win his home state? We made it so clear the last time he ran here that we were done with him. Don't you think that if he thought for one minute that he could have gone out on a win he would have? Now if you vote for Romney you will get this loser is some government post. Now that is scary.
Same way a jerk breaks up with his girlfriend or a wimp quits their job. Classy.
A lot of people who do this sort of work do it late at night. Their customers sometimes just leave the money on the nightstand...
What a new low. It comes in paragraph 13 of an e-mail. It is like breaking up by sending someone an e-mail.
What a joke.
Obama-Biden 2012
Too bad the endorsement was in an email and not in person with both candidates on the stage. One of the most amusing and telling aspects of Gov. Romney is his body language. I can picture him now, standing there arms rigid at his side, with his head slightly tilted down and that forced smile on his face as someone he loathes endorses him. I can hardly wait to watch him fidget awkwardly when Palin endorses him!
Rick Santorum is a "Load of Craps!" He does not even have the GOP's courtesy to face the man in public to make the announcement. What a ClassLESS ACT! and I'm for Obama!!!
I know I said RM was the "worst Republican", but he promised he would look after me
and I believe him – unlike some of those other politicians that tell lies and change their minds, this guy is the best Republican........ P.S. Mitt, should I open that account in Switzerland or Lichtenstein?
If Santorum supports Romney loudly, Romney gets hammered for being a pawn of the ultra-conservatives and being a peer of someone crazy like Santorum. If Santorum supports Romney quietly (like this), Romney gets hammered for barely being able to get the support of leaders in his own party. Such is the life of Mitt Romney.