Mich. Rep. Dave Camp endorses Romney

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney picked up the support from Michigan U.S. Rep. Dave Camp Tuesday, continuing his streak of dominating the Hill endorsements so far.

Camp, R-Midland, will also join the National Advisory Committee of the Michigan native and oft-time frontrunner.

Romney has netted more endorsements than any other GOP presidential candidate nationwide, but has yet to sway most of Michigan’s nine Republican members of Congress to his side. Prior to Camp, Romney had the support of Rep. Thad McCotter, R-Livonia, who endorsed his one-time competitor when he dropped his bid for the White House.

Romney, son of the popular Michigan governor, has drawn on his strong family and political ties to Michigan when campaigning here.  But most other members of the Michigan Congressional delegation have yet to stand up for Romney.

Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, was an early supporter of Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Freshman Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, is an avid Rep. Ron Paul backer, both congressmen often bucking their party when voting.  Another freshman Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls, supported businessman Herman Cain before allegations of sexual misconduct derailed his campaign.

Camp, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, praised Romney as the conservative candidate with a proven record for turning around troubled enterprises.

“No candidate in this race will be more committed to getting Michigan on a path to recovery than Mitt Romney who was born and raised here,” Camp said in a statement.

Romney has picked up the endorsements of many Michigan politicians in Lansing, including Attorney General Bill Schuette, as well as Speaker of the House Jase Bolger and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville.

But in Washington, most Hill Republicans have not yet endorsed. Among those already backing, Romney has won over the support of 58 sitting members of Congress, compared to Perry’s 14 and Newt Gingrich’s eight, according to Roll Call’s 2012 endorsement watch.

Sitting out so far are several Michigan representatives, including some powerful committee heads: U.S. Rep Fred Upton, chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers, chair of the House intelligence committee, Rep. Tim Walberg, chairman of a House Education and Workforce subcommittee and freshman Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland.

Michigan’s presidential primary is Feb. 28 and Romney hopes his native state will pull through for him again as in 2008. He intends to work with Camp to spread his message.

“I am so honored to earn Dave’s support,” Romney said in a statement. “For years, Dave has a been a respected conservative leader in the House and shares my vision of fighting out of control spending, making entitlements more sustainable, and working to restore our nation’s fiscal health.”