Romney secures crucial endorsement

Top Republican Eric Cantor has endorsed Mitt Romney for president of the US, giving the frontrunner a boost as the primary nomination contest reaches a critical stage.

Cantor’s endorsement, the first from a top member of the Republican congressional leadership, was seen as the strongest sign yet that the party establishment wants the bitter primary battle wrapped up soon.

Romney is the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination to take on President Barack Obama in November, but has faced stubborn challenges from Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

“I cast my vote already in Virginia for Mitt Romney and I’m here today to tell you that I’m endorsing Mitt Romney in his candidacy for the presidency of the United States,” Cantor, the House of Representatives majority leader, told NBC.

Romney is “going to best be able to lead this economy back to a growth mode, create jobs so people can feel better about the future”, Cantor said.

His endorsement came just two days before Super Tuesday, a pivotal day in the nominating battle, when 10 states vote at once.