Sen. Rand Paul endorses Romney
(CNN) - Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, tea party favorite and son of presidential candidate Ron Paul, officially endorsed Mitt Romney late Thursday night.
"My first choice had always been my father. I campaigned for him when I was 11-years-old. He's still my first pick, but now that the nominating process is over, tonight I'm happy to announce that I'm going to be supporting Gov. Mitt Romney," Rand Paul said on Fox News.
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His announcement came one day after his father acknowledged he would not become the Republican nominee, despite maintaining for months that he would stay in the fight for the White House.
Ron Paul ended his official campaign events weeks ago, but has not technically suspended his candidacy and will have delegates at the Republican National Convention in August.
The endorsement from Rand Paul, who won his 2010 Senate bid with strong tea party support, could be a boost for Romney as the candidate attempts to shore up different factions of the Republican Party, including Ron Paul's vocal and active supporters.
Asked why he was throwing his voice behind Romney, Rand Paul listed off a number of ways his family values and family history line up with that of Romney–including the fact that both he and the candidate have fathers who ran for president. Romney’s father, the late George Romney, served as Michigan governor and was a presidential candidate in 1968.
The senator then went on to talk about policies, saying he met with Romney recently in Washington and discussed the candidate's support for reforming the Federal Reserve, limiting regulations, and opposing the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). The proposed legislation, which failed to garner enough support in the Senate, called for expanded federal power online in preventing internet piracy.
"I think there's a lot of kinship between us on those issues," he said.
Romney responded Thursday night to the endorsement, saying in a statement he was "honored" to have the senator's backing.
"Senator Paul has been a leading voice in the effort to scale back the size and reach of government and promote liberty," Romney said. "I am grateful for Senator Paul's support and look forward to working with him to get America back on the right track."
- CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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If Romney ............(Hmm! I reserve my comment until Romney makes his pick)!
It's one thing for what might well be a future President of the United States to lie his way into the White House - and let's be clear here - there are very few Americans who don't know Romney is lying every time he opens his mouth, but for a major news organization to become head cheerleader for those lies is a good indication of why America is where it is today politically.
Shame, shame, CNN. Why fault America for what is happening within your own internal political power struggle by printing one article after another filled with bias and untruthful reporting? First FOX ... now CNN. Doubt me? Read the today's headline articles.
Sorry, but I for one am done playing the Tea Party shuffle at CNN.
This is very disappointing. As a Ron Paul supporter and proponent of real change from our phony two-party corporate owned establishment, I has considered Rand Paul geniune. As soon as I read this, I unsubscribed from the Campaign for Liberty newsletter and will no longer support Rand Paul. I would still vote for his father, but this will likely push me completely to the Libertarian Party. I am very conservative, but the Republican Party is just a warmongering big spending party as much as the Dems are a welfare big spending party. $16 Trillion in debt! Romney is NOT the answer.
Republican endorses Republican candidate is a Big Endorsement now? What's next, "Obama's huge endorsement: Nancy Pelosi"?
Boy i bet you Romney never thought he'd see the day when his own politcal brethren would STOP holding their noses, and turning their backs on him whenever he happenned into their midst.
One of the biggest political outsiders, bigger than Ron Paul even, has been MADE into the Golden Child of the very Party who shunned him and his many millions until just 1 year ago.
It's gotta make you at least stop and wonder, has he really changed that much to be so accepted? Or more than likely was he the MOST willing to denigrade himself into the most pliable poltical pansy they could purchase in order to achieve his dream of having a shot at the Oval Office?
Obama 2012. Think America.....and remember.
None of these endorsements mean anything to me, I will vote however I choose.
Rand, don't forget who you are endorsing – the flip-flopping flim-flam man. Just because you think he shares similar values now, doesn't mean he will in the future if it becomes politically unpopular. And if you think that your endorsement of Romney will bring your father's supporters to vote for Romney, think again. Most of us view your endorsement as a betrayal of the man we respect and love.
Who cares?
Good job Paul, now I know you are smart for endorsing Romney. You rule.
And why is this news!!!!!!
This is a big endorsement?
Romney - had said he would promise Rand some personal consideration and possibly some position, if Ron Paul were to drop out and have Rand "endorse him".....more than money trading hands......to ensure Ron Pauls debt for his campaign get paid off...
and who is r. paul........a NOBODY like the one he has ENDORSED
Big endorsement? You are being sarcastic, right?
tea party sell out.
Jimm
This is a big endorsement?
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Yeah, well, "Aqua Bubba" can't be too careful who he endorses and now that his dad is out of the picture who was left for him TO endorse? Let's face it, it's not as if Romney hasn't already won the GOP nomination so this isn't exactly breaking news, is it?
What obama policies haven't worked? Congress haven't passed any for jobs, for debt control and or to help recovery. America don't be stupid and believe lies. Obama has tried, but congress (even some Dems) haven't done their job. Congress should lose their jobs in Nov. Congress should be made up of doctors(healthcare), lawyers, educators(education reform) and everyday workers(fair work laws and wages), those are the people who know best what the rest of the country needs. Crime is up throughout the country (not just major cities), small towns have more empty businesses than open ones and education in public schools is terrible. This is not on the president! and for all that think it is, need to take a 9th grade civics class!
Based on the story headline, I thought this was going to be a meaningful endorsement.....from, say, Joe the Plumber?
Good for Rand! He fights the Democratic led Senate every day and knows that Obama could have sent an email to Reid rather than give a speech, since Reid is the man who sits on, tables Job bills. But wait, Obama is now blaming Europe for his failures. Guess he thinks they'll lose sleep over his dribbling lies.
Rand has just betrayed both the Tea Party and his own father. Wonder what his price was?
Big deal. (yawn)
YAWN..........CNN must be hard up for news......who cares.......The 99% will support Obama, the news media LOVES TO SELL the drama of polls, opinions, etc..........anything to insight fear and debate.
OBAMA 2012
Rand Paul must be one of the Communist in Washington that Alan West was talking about because he denounces everything in History and that may also include the Holocaust. Go back to your medical practice Rand, you'll never be President.
There's a shock!
And ,in other breathtaking news, today is Friday. Did anyone think that the Pauls were going to vote for President Obama, thereby standing up for what they SAY that they believe in? No, they're going to vote for the huge military, war mongering guy.