Posted on 05/02/2012 10:07:48 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will likely get more than face time with Virginia voters when he visits Portsmouth today.
He's also expected to nab a key endorsement.
Several Republican sources this week said Romney's campaign is developing plans to have U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota at the 1:15 p.m. event at Crofton Industries to announce her support for Romney.
A darling of evangelicals and tea partyers, Bachmann briefly soared as a Republican presidential contender before withdrawing in January after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.
An endorsement from her could lend some social conservative credentials to Romney as he tries to better connect with that part of the Republican base and overcome criticism that he's a moderate.
If it comes, it would follow the backing of another Minnesotan and onetime presidential contender: Last year, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty declared his support for Romney after dropping out of the race.
And, if history is a guide, more former Romney rivals are likely to provide public offerings of support as the GOP seeks to unify its factions and energize voters for the fall campaign against President Barack Obama.
Word of Bachmann's potential appearance came from several ranking Virginia Republican officials with knowledge of the evolving plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
One source said Tuesday that Bachmann's presence at Romney's Portsmouth visit, which is open to the public, was all but assured after the event was announced.
Another told The Virginian-Pilot on Wednesday that there's a 90 percent chance she'll be there.
Also scheduled to be on hand is Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who has already endorsed the former Massachusetts governor and has been mentioned as a possible running mate for him.
McDonnell's office declined comment Wednesday when asked about Bachmann, as did Romney's campaign. Bachmann's staff replied to an initial email inquiry but didn't offer further response to a question about whether she'll endorse Romney.
Romney swooped into Northern Virginia on Wednesday to discuss the economy at a morning event and attend an evening fundraiser.
Speaking at the offices of a Chantilly company specializing in trade show exhibit services, Romney spoke about the virtues of small businesses and said Obama's policies have hurt them, according to The Associated Press.
After his Portsmouth visit today, Romney is scheduled to return to the state next week to deliver a commencement address at Liberty University.
Bachmann, meanwhile, is booked as the keynote speaker for Regent University's commencement Saturday morning in Virginia Beach.
That day, Obama will headline a campaign kick-off rally at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
The Romney and Obama visits this week portend much campaign activity ahead in Virginia as both candidates pursue the 13 electoral votes in this critical battleground state.
Why is everyone concerned with Bachmann’s endorsement?
Newt’s endorsed him and Santo and Palin are next.
I wonder why stalking horse waited this long?
...and they are doing it because that is what we are left with should he clinch the nomination, and they believe and know, despite his obvious warts, he will be better for the country than Obama.
...and despite the warts, I pray they are right because Obama is actively making great strides toward destroying the Republic for sure.
The GOP is almost completely bereft of any moral leadership.
It’s as plain as the nose on your face.
The only way someone can miss it at this point is to shut their eyes.
Obama has to go!
We’ll fight tomorrow.
We are the moral leadership and we cant just hand it over to Obama.
I think we are angry at the business as usual, protocols as usual, and the RINO cram down as usual.
These were all suppose to be the people who said the were on to the game and were in it to change the game. On a wing and a prayer we hoped they meant it and believed they could prove it. They didn’t.
As soon as they were out of the game they went silent, joined the rest of the forces on the sidelines waiting on Romney to kill off the conservatives remaining. Silence is consent. It was expedient and expected, but it was wrong.
We are the moral leadership and we cant just hand it over to Obama.
I could never look at myself in the mirror if I didn’t do everything possible, which includes voting for Romney, to defeat the evil America hating man called Barack Hussein Obama.
We are in an extremely bad predicament.
If by that you mean support a socialist pro-choice democrat with a Republican label, my answer is in my tagline.
I agree.
And put the fire to Mitts feet with the down ballot votes.
You think you have it bad...
When I go to vote.. I’ll have to look long and hard at that ballot. Both Mitt and Michele will be on mine...
Mitt has a very long (I’ll say at this point unpassiable) road in front of him with me.
Michele.. if she comes out for Mitt might just find herself on that same road.
I’m done selling out for the GOP.
And no. I won’t be voting for Obama either.
I Say its better than electing communist by sitting it out.
I will grit my teeth and vote for Romney.
I detest everything 0bama too much not to.
Who said anything about sitting anything out? That’s a dishonest meme used against those who refuse to vote for a socialist just because he has an R by his name.
Exactly!
I hear ya.
I made up my mind a few years back. If they won’t keep the most basic obligations of the oath via the policies they support, they ain’t getting any aid and comfort from me, much less my vote.
And until conservatives start holding them accountable for the politicians they endorse, not much is going to change. That’s a big part of the equation.
If I was in your shoes, I could not vote for Bachmann. To do so would violate the promises I’ve made.
Vote down ballot and up ballot.
Fight!
Yep, it’s time to do this thing.
This is a war, and in war one can expect to have to do things one does not want to do.
There is no time for complaints, there is no time for weakness, this is the time for guts and mettle.
Down with Barack Hussein Obama, the America hating muslim communist!
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