Victoria Angulo / Ronald Reagan Presidential Libra

Nancy Reagan met with GOP candidate Mitt Romney at her home in Los Angeles. They had cookies and lemonade and she offered her "firm endorsement."

SAN DIEGO, Calif. --  Former First Lady Nancy Reagan became the latest Republican heavyweight to officially endorse Mitt Romney's presidential bid this afternoon after a meeting at her home in Los Angeles.

"Mitt and Ann Romney joined me at my home this afternoon for some lemonade and cookies and I offered my firm endorsement of his campaign for President," Mrs. Reagan, 90, said in a statement.  "Although I know he will not be the official nominee of the Republican Party until August in Tampa, Florida, I am thrilled that after Tuesday's primary he is the clear choice, having won the magic number of 1,144 convention delegates." 

The former first lady, who met with all the Republican presidential candidates prior to the NBC/Politico debate at the Reagan library last September, said former President Ronald Reagan would have liked Romney's personal background as well.

"Ronnie would have liked Governor Romney's business background and his strong principles, and I have to say I do too. I believe Mitt Romney has the experience and leadership skills that our country so desperately needs, and I look forward to seeing him elected president in November," Mrs. Reagan's statement said.

The Republican establishment continues to coalesce around Romney since it became clear he would be the party's standard bearer in November. In March, former President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara offered a formal endorsement for Romney in Houston. Earlier this month, their son, former President George W. Bush told a reporter he too was backing Romney. And last night, former secretaries of state Condoleeza Rice and George Schultz offered their support to the presumptive GOP nominee at a fundraiser outside of San Francisco.