Snyder Endorses Romney at Chamber Event in Farmington Hills

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney came to Farmington Hills Manor for a luncheon Thursday expecting – and getting – an endorsement from Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder.

But Romney picked up a "two-fer," as longtime Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey also threw his support behind the Michigan native, asking those in attendance to talk with their friends and make a commitment to vote for Romney in the Feb. 28 Michigan primary.

"I didn't want to collide with Governor Snyder's endorsement," Kirksey joked. "As you can see, I have a great feeling of self-esteem."

In his endorsement, Snyder ticked off the progress his administration made in eliminating Michigan's state budget deficits and the state's complex and much-hated business tax. He said Michigan is becoming a role model for the rest of the country. 

"We've shown what can be done once you're at the bottom ... but if you look at what's going on in Washington, the issues are very much the same," Snyder said. 

He credited Romney's private sector experience, along with the experience of "being successful running a state," as "the experience we need in Washington."

"Being the good nerd that I am, you know I've reviewed the information," he said. "This Governor has put together a strong plan, a jobs and economic growth plan that I strongly support."

Snyder said there's another bonus in Romney's candidacy, in that "He was born and raised a Michigander. He understands our state. He's one of us."

Romney was equally supportive of Snyder's work in his home state.

"If we could do in Washington what your governor has done here, we'd be in a very different position as nation," he said. "And I hope to do in Washington what your governor has done here."