Real estate developer Donald Trump endorses Mitt Romney for president.
Donald Trump formally endorsed Mitt Romney for president on Thursday, describing the former Massachusetts governor as "tough" and "smart" and the best pick in the GOP primary.
Trump and Romney appeared together in Las Vegas to announce the endorsement, which drew heavy media coverage.
"It is a real honor and privilege to endorse Mitt Romney," Trump said in brief remarks. "Mitt is tough, he's smart, he's sharp. He's not going to allow bad things to continue to happen to this country we all love."
Romney said in response: "There are some things that you just can't imagine in your life. This is one of them," adding that it means a "great deal" to have the billionaire's support.
The endorsement follows a bizarre period of time in which several major news outlets -- including the New York Times and Associated Press -- had initially reported that Trump had been planning to endorse Newt Gingrich. The former House speaker had been one of only two candidates to agree appearing at a debate the "Apprentice" host had planned, but which never came to pass. Romney declined attendance.
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Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) said he didn't think the Trump endorsement matters, but added on KDWN radio that if Trump "wants to endorse the person who's most in line with his thinking with respect to the major issue of this economic problem that we're involved in, he should endorse Rick Santorum."
For their part, Democrats seemed to take a degree of joy in the Trump spectacle.
"It really wouldn't be surprising if Donald Trump endorses Mitt Romney, because they both like firing people, and they both made millions doing it" Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said on msnbc. "Donald Trump is such a cartoon character, no matter who he chooses, it's like Bugs Bunny endorsing ... It's really kind of a non-news event."
DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz tells MSNBC's Thomas Roberts that recent verbal missteps from Mitt Romney show that he has "no concern about people who are struggling."
It's reflective of the media whirlwind to have surrounded Trump's game of footsie with Republican politics over the past year.
Trump had initially thought about running for the GOP nomination last spring. He talked publicly about the possibility of running and even visited New Hampshire. The flirtation coincided with the broadcast of last spring's season of "The Apprentice" on NBC. (NBC is a co-owner of mnsbc.com, along with Microsoft.) Trump had initially promised to make clear his intentions in the show's season finale, but ultimately demurred, and made the announcement separately.
Trump had additionally been one of the most prominent figures to voice suspicions that President Obama had not actually been born in the United States, and, thusly, was constitutionally ineligible to be president. Obama eventually relented and released his long-form birth certificate on April 27, 2011, verifying he was born in Hawaii. Obama made light of the situation at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on May 1, deriding the media for giving voice to “carnival barkers” like Trump, only to announce the next day that Osama bin Laden had been killed in a daring raid in Pakistan -- planning of which had been ongoing during the annual dinner.
But the discussion of "birther" theories over the course of last spring appears to have harmed Trump in the eyes of the public; Trump had a 26 percent favorable rating in a February 2011 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, and a 29 percent unfavorable rating. By mid-May, the point at which the real estate magnate announced he wouldn't be running, a Suffolk University poll found that Trump had a 70 percent unfavorable rating, while just 18 percent of Americans had a positive opinion of Trump.
It's also not incredibly clear what, if any, impact the Trump endorsement will have on the trajectory of the race, in Nevada's caucuses on Saturday, or beyond. Romney had already led, at 45 percent, in a poll of likely Nevada caucus-goers released Thursday. He's followed by Gingrich at 25 percent, Santorum at 11 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 9 percent.
Still, the reality television star continued to play an out-sized role throughout the 2012 cycle. All the Republican candidates visited Trump through the course of last summer with the exception of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.
"I think his infusing himself into the dialogue really dumbs down and makes less consequential the very important issues that we must be discussing to get this country back on its feet again," Huntsman said on Fox News in December.
One of the most intensely covered media events of 2011 came when former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin went out for pizza with Trump in Manhattan during a stop on her bus tour of the Northeast, a journey meant to stoke speculation about her own presidential aspirations. When Romney visited Trump, he snuck in and out of the billionaire's headquarters without being captured by staked-out cameras.


People that have education and can actually think for themselves understand what GOOD THINGS have been happening since Bush left the US collapsing into the worst depression ever.
3 million + jobs in three years is actually pretty impressive considering what was going on at the end of 2008 and 2009. January jobs alone came in at > 240,000.....That is WAY ABOVE expectations. More $$$ in my investment portfolio (up > 80%)....record company profits.....what is there not to like!!!! if you have no success then maybe its you and maybe you should stop blaming Obama.
Amazingly GOP supporters seem to HATE that sort of success, they just HATE for the sake of HATING. NEVER admiting there has been some incredible things done when you actually understand what happened in 2008......only a brainwashed, uneducated fool thinks nothing good is going on.
Oh, what I also do not understand is how GOP supports can support a party that since 1900 are the worst choice when it comes to stock market numbers, GDP numbers, Debt increase percentage.
What the real numbers say is that a vote for GOP is a vote for failure!!!! Democratic control gives Americans the best stock returns, best GDP growth and least Debt increase.....LOOK IT UP!!!!
It doesn't much matter who endorses whom ~ neither Democrat or Republican has a chance in Hell of winning now that Rosanne Barr has entered the race. Seriously ~ filed the papers this week to run as a Green Party candidate. No doubt news of this 'momentum shifter' is what drove Trump to so hastily endorse Romney. We are not sure yet how the Obama camp will play this but you can already see the furrowed brow at the DNC. Lets face it ~ with the caliber of candidates running in the major parties, the "Snickers Girl" might have a good chance.
Wall Street has a new member for its OWH (Occupy the White House) movement. Trump has a record of critical remarks against Romney that will unendorse Romney during the general election.
With friends like Donald Trump who needs enemies. What this selfish blow hard thinks has zero relevance. He is the worst example I can think of to endorse anyone.
What a combination. The Evil Mexican Mormon Tax Evading anti-Christ Satanic Cultist (according to Groper Nutquist and his priests) backed by bragging blowhard Bankruptcy King Fox Top. That is one step better, however, than Herman (9Kampf) Cain, the dressd slitherer, being backed by Jerry Sandusky.
Amazing. Lyin Willard, the two faced repuke that would not go to Trumps debate now is in love with the guy because he is endorsing him.
I want lyin Willard to produce his birth certficate and the last 5 years of his tax returns, so we can see how much in taxes he evaded by using Swiss and Cayman Island bank accounts.
Dump the radical right wing cracked teanuts in Congress. The 13 percenters are worthless dunces.
I really felt that bragging blowhard Bankruptcy King Fox Top would endorse Nut Gingerhead. I thought he wanted some prime moon property for casinos and apartment buildings on Newt's $2 trillion dollar moon colony. I guess is happy though that he endorsed the tax evading Mexican Mormon.
Trump and Romney-----Ha ha ha ha -----Maybe Trump wants the V.P. nomination----Please Lord----Let it happen!
Goodbye lyin right wing radical right wing cracked teanuts. Obama's failed policies, according to these lyin repukes, has been proven to be just that, lies. The employment report was just released and almost 250,000 jobs were created in January. We will never go back to the failed policies of Bush Bin Lyin and his criminal gang led by President Cheney and their trickle down economics, where the money only trickled down into their corporate masters pockets creating no jobs-only losing them.
The unemployment rate has dropped to 8.3% from 8.7%
Republicans have lied for years about who spends more and the uneducated GOP supporters simply accept their word....it amazes me that none of those supporters have the skill set/intelligence to do their own homework and look up the $$$ and numbers online.
The true facts exist out there.....
If investing $10,000 in the 1930s.....$10,000 would now be worth $51,211 for Republican controlled Government, $10,000 would now be worth $300,671 for Democratic controlled Government.
Real GDP growth between 1949 and 2011 was 4.43% under Democratic presidents, while the average growth rate has been 2.43% under Republicans.
Democratic presidents since 1980 have grown the debt only 77% vs Republicans growing it 336%.
The economics speaks for itself. Republicans are purely a dog and pony show. They tell you Democrats spend more but behind your back they end up spending 250% more.....
What does this mean?? The average Republican supporter is either ignorant or part of the BS machine. Either way they lack any sort of real intelligence and/or ethics.
This is good and truthful information. If the Republicans were to actually look back in history the country was always in better economic situations under the Democrats than under the Republicans. The conservatives only think about their bank accounts and in order to make them grow they screw the little man over and over. George Bush and Dick Cheney and the other cronies that lied to us about WMD'd in Iraq so we could invade them are the creators of the present economic woes. Lower tax rates for the wealthy and screw the average American. Well a lot of average Americans known as Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers died so they could make their personal accounts grow. Haliburton and other companies owned by Republicans in power at the time were assigned to support the troops. By law this should have been a bid situation so the law is broken again by Republicans. So in order to pay for the false, illegal war they are the ones who started borrowing billions of dollars from the Chinese. So the borrowed Chinese funds were used to pay Haliburton and the other companies and thus paying Bush/Cheney/ Ashcroft, Don and Condoleeza into their personal accounts thus it is blood money. Now we have a Democratic President who wants to fix things and the Republicans know they will not be making as much money so they fight hinm every step of the way instead of working with him. I think they are trying to hide illegal doings and know if things were fixed by Democrats they would be found out and charged with crimes. Republicans are for themselves and not for the average man in America!!!!!!
Mitt the fact you took the Donald's endorsement is proof you can't stop bad things from happening.Birds of a feather are bound to stick together.
Fox Top is as two faced as lyin Willard. Lyin Willard would not attend Fox Top's proposed debate, but Gingerhead would have. Yet Fox Top turned against Nut Gingerhead and is backing lyin Willard. Fox Top criticized lyin Willard for not attending, but he is now backing him.
However, if Fox Top sees that lyin Willard is losing in the primary, he will dump lyin Willard and run as an independent. That would be a joy to see, as the repuke party goes into shambles.
WOW....so at least we now know Mitten's is gonna get a vote from a casino owner in Nevada, and so is Newt...gambling on the future of the middle class, that made this country great....I just can't shake the overwhelming sense of doom, we're either of these clown's elected and we return to GOP (undoubtably Bush like) control of this country...I heard yesterday that the continuation of Bush's tax breaks for the wealthy created an additional 4 trillion in debt during O'Bama's firt 4 years...I'm still blaming Bush!
Not to mention Bush kept the wars off the books.
I find it amusing that Trump called a press conference to announce his support. What a putz, does he really think anyone cares.
Where's all that info his private investigator found on Obama...again trump is a putz.
Hey, bushisanidiot... S'matter with you? Don't you know the Trump,the birther chump--wants you & everyone else to forget what his goons "found" on Obama, in Hawaii?
Shame on you for not going along with his loud BS! Shame...!
(Can I have some of your shame?)
Donald Trump . . . Mickey Mouse. It's all the same.
I don't understand why this made news. Who cares who Trump endorses? If I say who I endorse will it make headlines?
It only matters to 'sheep' who aren't able (or do not want to) think for themselves.
I really think it's boring when anyone publicly announce who they endorse. Whether it's an actor, musician, sports figure, or TV talking head, reality star or even another political person. It carries no weight, in my book who they like.
Good, now they can get together and plan how to fire more people. Should be a real party for them in Vegas.
I can't believe anyone would vote for the idiots currently running this country. Where have you been the past 3 years? Look at the price of gas, food, etc. Are you in your right minds? Are you better off than today? I don't think so, or at least if your one of the TAX payers (Middle Class). If this president is re-elected it will be a disaster for those of us who pay taxes. I mean You (if you work that is)!
Well, I am sure Osama Bin Ladin or Kadhafi would agree with you...their lives are definitely not better! But I am pretty sure that if you are one of the hundreds of thousands of GM workers, that they would have to be very glad that President Obama was in charge!
And as far as taxes, President Obama does not want to raise my taxes...I don't make $250,000. That is the obstructionist Repubs who are insisting on hurting me. So I say," Yes! Vote out all repubs!"
It was Bush/Cheney that got the country into the hole with their false war. They are the ones that assigned their companies to support the troops in Iraq and the companies were paid billions of dollars and they each made millions of dollars that is in their personal accounts. Again I say assigned there was no bidding process as the law calls for. So in order to pay their companies the billions they are the ones that started borrowing billions of dollars from the Chinese and it is that borrowed money that now sits in thier personal accounts. The unemployment rate went down and thousands of automobile employees still have their jobs because Obama helped with the bailout. So think again when you say Obama is the problem as it is really Bush/Cheney that created the problem with their lies. When they came into office their was a surplus of funds and when they left we were billions of dollars if not trillions in debt when they left office. It is the Republicans tat want to lower the tax rates for the rich and riase the tax rate on the common citizen. It has always been that way when the Republicans are in charge. Remember when Kennedy was President there was also a surplus of funds then after LBJ the debt went sky high again under Nixon. The past and present history proves this over and over.
Ugh. Yecccch. Bleccccch. They're both disgusting.
Jobless
rate falls to 8.3%, lowest in almost 3 years
Mr. Trump
Why the lies.
Why in news conference you lied and said that unemployment rate increased to 9.2 percent
These are two of the men that actually run this country. I am not sure even God can help us.
I really hope this is the kiss of death. Do we really want a multi millionaire as president and another multi millionaire backing him? After the comments Romney made recently about the poor we can see where his candidacy is heading. There are a lot more poor people in this country that there are millionaires. Lets hope they all wake up and smell the coffee!
Trump's endorsement is basically of no value as he is like Gingrich another fat cat who will screw the poor and help his rich cronie friends. We need someone in office who will fight for the common man/woman and let them grow. Trump has kicked so many people out of their homes so he can build and expand his empire. it does not bother him one bit to force a 90 year old woman out of her home so he can build a new hotel or casino. He is scum and he and Romney can cheat and lie all they want they still have to meet the almighty when they pass and I'm sure it will be questioned as if they pass the gates or booted down the hole into hell. Gingrich won't even be considered to pass through the gates it is an automatic pass to hell for him.
Trump is a joke !
Mr. Romney, do the right thing, tell the Donald to shove it! No one will see that as flip flopping, we will count it as enlightenment!
This GOP primary is a real hoot. You can't make up stuff like this. Trump endorsing Romney. Cain endorsing Gingrich. Romney says he's not concerned with poor folks. Gingrich tries to play the victim role. Keep sending in those clowns (cue the Wurlitzer carnival pipe organ).
Trump for VP ......... ha ha ha ha , Romney "I don't care about the very poor", Trump "neither do I"