Nikki Haley Backs Mitt Romney for President

On Friday, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts unveiled a major endorsement of his bid for the Republican presidential nomination -- Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina. South Carolina will be third up in the procession of states that will determine the GOP nominee behind Iowa and New Hampshire.

It is an honor to have the endorsement of Governor Haley, said Romney. As a successful businesswoman who entered public service so government could better serve the people, Governor Haleys career-long efforts to reform government, make government more accountable to the taxpayers, and fight wasteful spending should be examples for leaders across the country. These conservative principles of smaller government are what I am fighting for in my campaign and will be the basis for restoring economic prosperity and fiscal health.

The election next November will have ramifications for generations, said Haley. Neither South Carolina nor the nation can afford four more years of President Obama, and Mitt Romney is the right person to take him on and get America back on track. He is a conservative businessman who has spent his life working in the economy, and he understands exactly how jobs are created. He is not a creature of Washington, and he knows what it means to make decisions -- real decisions -- not simply cast a vote. Our country will need real leadership to undo President Obamas failed policies, and replace them with the conservative principles Mitt Romney learned turning around businesses and a failing Olympics and successfully, conservatively, governing a Democratic state. I am proud to endorse him and will work my hardest to ensure he is elected so we can turn around our country.