John Ashcroft Backs Mitt Romney for President

Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced on Monday that he is backing former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for the Republican presidential nomination. A veteran of Missouri politics, Ashcroft served as state auditor and attorney general of the Show Me State before two terms as governor and one as a U.S. senator. Ashcroft considered running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 but decided to run for another term as a senator. After losing that contest, Ashcroft served as attorney general under George W. Bush.

It is an honor to have the support of Attorney General Ashcroft, said Romney in a statement on Monday. After working with him on the 2002 Winter Olympics, I know that he is deeply committed to serving our country and protecting its citizens and I look forward to his counsel over the coming months.

The election in November is as important an election as I can remember, said Ashcroft. At home, we face economic and fiscal peril, and abroad we face uncertainty in volatile regions of the world. Our country needs an iron-willed president of integrity to lead us through these troubled times. No other candidate stands out for his executive leadership experience or ability to accomplish difficult tasks as does Mitt Romney. As a conservative who served as governor of Missouri during the Reagan revolution, I admire Mitts record of fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and defense of traditional values in a politically difficult state for a Republican. I had the opportunity to work with Mitt Romney on issues of national security during the 2002 Winter Olympics and counted him as a trustworthy, effective ally in the fight against terror while he was governor of Massachusetts. I know that the lives and liberties of the American people will be secure with him as president. I am grateful for the opportunity to support him and urge all voters who want to restore America to her pre-eminent place of leadership in values, strength and prosperity to support him now and in November.