Mitt Romney Gets an Endorsement in Rick Santorum's Backyard

On Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney received a major endorsement in Pennsylvania -- the home state of Rick Santorum, his main rival for the GOP nomination. U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., announced that he was backing Romney. Like Santorum, who was defeated by current U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa,, Fitzpatrick lost his seat in 2006 but he would rebound to reclaim it in the 2010 elections.

I have been overwhelmed by the strong support I have received in Pennsylvania, said Romney. Congressman Fitzpatrick shares my vision of cutting spending and getting Washington out of the way of the private sector. With his help and the hard work of those supporting me in Pennsylvania, we can defeat President Obama and turn around the country.

It is time for Republicans to unite behind the one candidate who can defeat President Obama and end the failed policies of the last three years, said Fitzpatrick before offering some words of praise for Santorum. Like many of my colleagues, I know Senator Santorum and respect the work he did for Pennsylvania but I am strongly supporting Mitt Romney. Pennsylvania and the rest of the country cant afford four more years of President Obamas failed policies and it is important that we nominate a proven conservative like Mitt Romney to face President Obama. I urge my fellow Pennsylvanians to support Mitt Romney and look forward to working with him in the weeks before the primary and to defeat President Obama in November.

Pennsylvania, which will have 72 delegates to the Republican convention in Tampa come August, holds its primary on April 24.