Romney Picks Up Endorsements From GA, CO, UT Ahead Of Super Tuesday

Washington, D.C (AHN) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney picked up key endorsements on Friday from the Super Tuesday states of Georgia, Colorado and Utah.

"A Georgia GOP primary works as a filter - only a true conservative can get through one," U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) said in a statement. "It appears that we are now down to a two-person race and Georgians can help winnow the field and protect our party's conservative values and principles."

"Governor Romney has succeeded in everything that he has done," Westmoreland added. "One of his opponents has scornfully called him a manager for profit. If excelling in business hurts a candidate in a Republican primary, I'm terrified about the future of the party."

The Denver Post also similarly praised Romney's business acumen.

"In a recent phone interview with The Post's editorial board, Romney impressed us with his broad range of knowledge, his grasp of economic policy and his understanding of issues important to Western voters," the newspaper said.

"Washington Republicans have strayed far from the fiscal conservatism their party has traditionally championed. So while we applaud McCain's stand against wasteful spending, we're even more impressed with Romney's real-world experience in running lean budgets and bringing financial competency to companies," it added.

The Post made a list of rival Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) strengths, but said these weren't enough for the presidency.

"Arizona Sen. John McCain, now the frontrunner, is an American hero, a foreign-policy expert and a veteran of the Washington trenches," it said. "But with a volatile economy overtaking Iraq as a chief concern among voters, we believe that Mitt Romney is the best choice for Colorado Republicans.

"On foreign policy issues, both Romney and McCain have promised to continue fighting terrorism worldwide and both have backed the surge in Iraq. While McCain has combat experience that can't be discounted, Romney has surrounded himself with competent leadership and his lack of military experience shouldn't keep him from leading America firmly and wisely on the world stage."

U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) also endorsed Romney, despite the Republican hopeful's recent defeat in Florida and current second place ranking in the delegate count.

"Of all the viable candidates running for president, Governor Romney is the only one who talks about the significant role that state and local governments play in solving people's problems. Everyone else talks about expanding the role of the federal government. Governor Romney is the only candidate with executive and administrative experience."

The three endorsements were issued just days ahead of Super Tuesday.

On Friday, Romney's campaign continued its "Change Begins With Us" tour, with son Matt bringing it to Missoula in Montana and wife Anne to North Dakota.

Romney is also contesting another relatively insignificant contest, the Maine Republican Party Presidential Nominating Caucuses on Saturday, just as he did in Wyoming and Nevada. His son Tagg is campaigning in the Pine Tree State a day before primary.