S.C. Gov. Haley endorses Romney

COLUMBIA, S.C., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley endorsed Mitt Romney for president Friday, giving him crucial support for the Palmetto State's upcoming primary in January.

"Today is the day that I am throwing all of my support behind Mitt Romney for president," Haley said.

Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, said in a statement it was "an honor" to be endorsed by Haley, The Hill reported. Romney endorsed Haley when she ran for governor in 2010.

The Republican South Carolina governor said she wanted to endorse a candidate who would improve "jobs, the economy and spending."

"What I want is someone who is not part of the chaos that is Washington. What I wanted was someone who knew what it was like to turn broken companies around," she said.

"He's very much become a great candidate, just like Ronald Reagan did in that in his first run he learned a lot as a candidate," Haley said. "I don't think this is about being a candidate anymore; he spends a lot of time thinking about our country and how to get it back on track."

Haley added she believes Romney can beat President Barack Obama in a general election.

"Governor Romney is the one candidate that President Obama consistently tries to hit and get out of the way," Haley said. "That lets me know he's scared of him. It also lets me know Governor Romney's got a good fight in him and that's the one President Obama doesn't want to have to go against."