Former Attorney General John Ashcroft endorsed Mitt Romney on Monday. Ashcroft, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, cited Romneys record as governor of Massachusetts, as well as his work organizing the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, as evidence that Romney would be an iron-willed president.
I admire Mitts record of fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and defense of traditional values in a politically difficult state for a Republican, Ashcroft said in a statement. 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.
Its the third recent high-profile endorsement for Romney ahead of the critical Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses.
On Sunday, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) endorsed Romney for president, praising him as the candidate "best equipped to solve the urgent problems before us."
Oklahoma is one of 10 states that will hold their primary elections on March 6.
Also on Sunday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) came out in support of Romney.
Only Romney and Ron Paul made the ballot in Virginia. Romney has a substantial lead in Cantors home state, and will take all of the states delegates if he can secure 50 percent of the vote there.
After posting a convincing win in the Washington state caucuses over the weekend, the GOP front-runner seems to have the momentum heading into Super Tuesday.
A slew of new polls on Monday showed Romney pulling away from the field in Ohio, which is one of Super Tuesdays biggest prizes, and where Romney hopes to prove that he can rally the blue-collar voters who have so far failed to back him.