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North Carolina's senior senator, Richard Burr, has become the latest high-profile Republican to endorse former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president.
In a statement released today by Romney's campaign, Burr lauds Romney's "proven leadership and his track record on issues of vital importance such as reducing government spending and creating jobs. . . . I am proud to give him my support, and I am confident he will be our next president."
The Romney campaign also released a statement by Romney, who pledged that, with Burr's help, "I look forward to bringing my message of a 'Simpler, Smaller, and Smarter' federal government to voters in North Carolina and across the nation."
The endorsement by Burr, who lives in Winston-Salem, comes a day after former N.C. Sen. Elizabeth Dole announced her backing of Romney. Her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, has also endorsed Romney.
North Carolina, which President Obama narrowly carried in 2008, is expected to be among the most fiercely contested states in next year's presidential election. Obama has chosen Charlotte to the site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, and his campaign has already opened four field offices, with volunteers registering voters nearly every day.
But, until 2008, North Carolina had voted for the GOP presidential candidate in every election since 1980. And with unemployment here still higher than the national rate, the Democratic president will face a tough fight in the state.
Burr, who was easily re-elected in 2010, has been mentioned by some as a possible GOP vice presidential candidate in 2012.
