Mitch Daniels endorses Mitt Romney

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

(CBS News) Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, popular among both his constituents and the Republican establishment, officially threw his support behind Mitt Romney's presidential campaign Wednesday morning. However, he dismissed speculation he could join Romney on the 2012 ticket.

Daniels has been hailed within his party as a serious fiscal conservative, and Romney today boasted in a statement that "Daniels shares my background in business, and he has used the principles of the private sector in government."

"Indiana has been served well by his leadership based on fiscal discipline, smaller government, and a friendly environment for job creators," Romney said.

Daniels said in a statement that Romney has "earned" the GOP nomination and "now deserves the support of every American still committed to government that serves the people rather than rules over them."

He added, "I'll do whatever I'm asked to help him."

When asked on Fox News Wednesday morning whether that could mean serving as Romney's vice presidential pick, Daniels said, "It won't happen, so we won't take the audience's time with it."

[jwilsonte]

What the Hell did anyone think he would endorse OBAMA This is breaking news LOL Hucklebee , Trump ya all the rich 1% endorsed him boarner, mcdoonell , all these suprises and the crazy singer scratch cat fever Ted nutgent the patroit who pissed and craped his pants for 30 days to beat draft ya all those guys endorsed mitt!! LOl

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

BREAKING NEWS, ANOTHER REPULICAN IS ENDORSING ROMNEY. What a surprise, NOT!!!! Will we have to see this every time a republican endorses Romney?

[DebbieCorona]

Romney has since day one on this run for President surrounded himself with GOP advisors and GWBush policies. This is Daniels "official" nod but he publically said months ago he supported Romney. Daniels was Bush's $$ man. This is no big surprise. What this is about is an endorsement to return to GWBush policies economically and in foreign policy. A vote for Romney is a vote for GWBush with views on women from the 1950's.

[Indyswim66]

Mitch Daniels... seriously! Who cares?

[judysworld]

Mitch Daniels hasn't done much to make us Hoosiers proud....for the life of me, I can't figure out why he's considered 'popular.'

[Zann-Zel]

Does endorsement really matter at this point?

Now if a Republican will stand up and endorse Obama - that'll be news! : )

[starving1968-3]

The anti-labor, anti-middle class, anti-union republican threw his support behind the candidate that is going to promote the SAME anti-union laws at the national level.

Are we supposed to be surprised?