Sununu to Endorse Romney

The New Hampshire Union Leader reports:

MANCHESTER — Former Gov. John H. Sununu on Monday will throw his considerable political influence behind Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

“I'm viewed as a good, solid conservative Republican and I'm supporting a good, solid conservative Republican,” Sununu said in disclosing his long-awaited endorsement.

In exclusive interview, Sununu said he narrowed his choice to Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but was won over by what he views as Romney's conservative approach to pressing domestic and national security issues.

He said the final component that persuaded him to back Romney was the former Massachusetts governor's early October foreign policy speech at The Citadel in South Carolina.

“That showed me that he understands that the principal role of the President of the United States is the security of the country and participating in trying to stabilize the world,” Sununu said.

Sununu served as chairman of the New Hampshire Republican party from 2009 to 2011, and was White House chief of staff under President George H. W. Bush. Sununu's son, John E. Sununu, is a former congressman and senator from New Hampshire. The younger Sununu has not endorsed anyone in the 2012 presidential race.

Romney currently has a 22-point lead in New Hampshire, according to the RealClearPolitics average.