Mike Haridopolos Backs Mitt Romney for President

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, announced on Wednesday that he is backing former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for the Republican presidential nomination.

We have been fortunate in this Republican presidential primary to have many solid candidates. I was not planning to publicly endorse a candidate before the Florida primary, Haridopolos said in a statement released on Wednesday. However, I have grown deeply concerned and disappointed about the attacks being launched on Mitt Romney by other candidates. I believe we are the party of better ideas. We need to focus on the positive ideas that our party can bring to the policy arena and not simply attack our political adversaries, both Republican and Democrat.

Rather than talking about how President Obama has weakened the American economy or debating limited government solutions for turning our country around, Mitt Romneys opponents are spending too much time on misleading and counterproductive attacks, added Haridopolos. "Those attacks on a fellow Republican wont help our party secure victory in November and may, in fact, help President Obama get re-elected. Its time for Republicans to be the party of better ideas and debate how we grow our economy and create new jobs -- and I believe Mitt Romney is the best man for the job.

Mitt Romney possesses solid private-sector experience and has a proven conservative record -- he is a principled, limited-government Republican who is focused on cutting spending, implementing tax reform, and reducing government red tape. He is the only candidate to outline a plan to deal with our economic competitors abroad, and hes run an honorable campaign to uphold the principles of the Republican Party and defend the ideals that make America exceptional," said Haridopolos in conclusion. "I encourage all Florida Republicans to support Mitt Romney in the primary and to work hard for him in the general election to ensure President Obama is a one-term president.