WASHINGTON, March 21 (Reuters) - Former Florida Governor Jeb
Bush on Wednesday endorsed Mitt Romney to be the Republican
nominee for president and called on Republicans to unite behind
the front-runner.
"Primary elections have been held in 34 states and now is
the time for Republican to unite behind Governor Romney and take
our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all
voters this fall," Bush, the brother of former President George
W. Bush, said in a statement released by his education
foundation.
Bush's endorsement came after Romney scored an easy win in
Illinois on Tuesday over his closest rival, Rick Santorum,
moving him one step closer to clinching the party's volatile
nomination battle for the right to face Democratic President
Barack Obama in the Nov. 6 election.
"I am endorsing Mitt Romney for our party's nomination,"
Bush said. "We face huge challenges and we need a leader who
understands the economy, recognizes more government regulation
is not the answer, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism and
works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to
succeed.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Deborah Charles;
Editing by Jackie Frank)
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