Rick Santorum swipes endorsement from Mitt Romney in Ohio
Mike DeWine, attorney general in Ohio, will today withdraw his endorsement for GOP hopeful Mitt Romney and will instead endorse Rick Santorum.
Rick Santorum, left, speaks today in Michigan at a Faith and Freedom Coalition rally. Mitt Romney, right, is seen addressing the Conservative Political Action Committee on Feb 10 in Washington.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
CNN reports today that Mike DeWine, attorney general in the key primary state of Ohio, will today withdraw his endorsement for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and instead endorse fellow former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum.
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The development confirms what can only be a panic-inducing trend for the Romney camp — that the once presumptive and prohibitive front runner is now firmly in second place just as the Republican nominating contest enters its decisive phase.
The news comes a day after CBS reported that Santorum is leading Romney in Ohio by a five-point margin in the latest polls (though both men would lose to President Obama in a head-to-head matchup).
Ohio Republicans go to the polls in less than three weeks on March 6.
According to CNN, DeWine had originally been a supporter of former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who withdrew from the race early on in August. DeWine then endorsed Romney but CNN reports, citing unnamed sources, that DeWine will announce his change of heart today.
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According to ABC News, which likewise cites an unnamed source “familiar wit the endorsement plans,” DeWine will make the announcement today on the steps of the State House in Columbus.