Dems scoff at Romney's endorsements

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- A senior Democratic senator predicted Sunday that some recent high-profile endorsements would come back to haunt Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Paul Ryan may be stars among conservatives, but would turn off mainstream voters in a November race against President Barack Obama.

"I'm not going to prognosticate on the race, but I'll tell you this, these endorsements actually show the weakness of Mitt Romney should he become the candidate," Schumer said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Schumer said Ryan's baggage included his aggressive budgetary views on popular programs such as Medicare while Rubio was unpopular with many Hispanic voters. "They're trying to make amends for the horrible shape they're in with Hispanic voters," Schumer said. "Hispanic voters are very hostile to Mitt Romney and the Republicans because of their anti-immigration stands."

Schumer said the Hispanic vote would be key not only in the presidential election but congressional races as well.