Romney to endorse McCain

— -- Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will endorse John McCain's presidential bid today, Romney's campaign said in a statement.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who dropped out after the Super Tuesday primaries this month, will endorse McCain at a campaign appearance later this afternoon.

He announced Feb. 7 that he was suspending his campaign, telling a conference of conservative activists he was doing so for the good of the party. Romney spent at least $35 million of his own money on the race and had spent more than any other Republican — at least $88 million.

Romney, who had called McCain insufficiently conservative during the campaign, said he backed McCain on Iraq and the need to eliminate al-Qaeda and terror throughout the world.

Staying in the race, Romney said, could have helped either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama win in November.

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Romney's endorsement comes as McCain continues to work at building support among conservatives. Shortly after Romney's decision, McCain spoke to the same group of conservative activists, promising to seek their counsel when making decisions.

Conservatives, such as radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh and author Ann Coulter, have criticized McCain's differences from standard Republican positions, such as his support for a "guest-worker" provision for immigration, his votes against President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and his push for campaign-finance limits with Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.

After Super Tuesday, Romney fell more than 400 delegates behind McCain. He had counted on a win in delegate-rich California to slow McCain's momentum and keep himself in the race, but he didn't get it as McCain carried the state.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas remain in the Republican race, but both are far behind McCain in committed delegates. After Romney withdrew, Huckabee issued a statement in which he called himself a "true authentic, consistent, conservative" and vowed to carry on.