On Monday, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced that he will endorse a candidate next week. The announcement came after a speech at the Detroit Economic Club during which Snyder laid out his plans for improving Michigan’s business climate and easing the tax burden holding business back.
The first term Republican governor told reporters that he is still undecided as to which candidate he will endorse. The announcement comes as the Romney and Santorum campaigns turn their focus to Michigan ahead of its February 28th primary. Michigan’s primary is the biggest yet, despite losing half its delegates due to breaking scheduling rules, with 30 delegates.
Following his speech, Snyder told reporters that “Washington isn’t getting the job done”, and added that he talked to a number of the candidates at the Republican Debate at Oakland University and that he’s known some of them for a long time, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Mitt Romney endorsed Snyder for governor in Michigan’s 2010 governor’s elections, calling him “a successful businessman, manager, and job creator”, according to USA Today. Romney is banking on his history with Michigan, where he was born and his father was governor, to win votes and Snyder’s endorsement may give him the boost he needs.
Santorum, who has been surging in recent polls, is also looking for Snyder’s endorsement as a way to cement his lead in the run-up to the primary. He went so far as to call Romney “desperate”, and added that he thought he could do “exceptionally well” in Michigan, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Both candidates will be speaking at the Detroit Economic Club in the weeks leading up to the primary. Santorum will address the club this Thursday, while Romney’s appearance will be closer to the primary on February 24th.
While the endorsement would likely be big news and help either candidate’s chances, some commentators and experts are questioning how beneficial it will be. Thus far, big endorsements have done little to benefit candidates; Romney lost South Carolina by double-digits despite Governor Nikki Haley’s endorsement, and the New Hampshire Union Leader’s endorsement of Newt Gingrich didn’t help him crack even the top three.
Snyder did give one hint, however; he said he’s looking for someone “who can bring people together”.
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