Las Vegas – Real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney for president here Thursday, just two days before Nevada Republicans will participate in their state's caucuses.
The Donald -- who once considered running for president and then offered to moderate a debate for the candidates -- made his endorsement following conflicting reports about his plans and signs of disorganization in Newt Gingrich’s campaign. Sources close to Gingrich’s campaign told news reporters Wednesday that Trump was preparing to endorse the former House speaker.
"Mitt is tough. He is smart. He is sharp. He is not going to allow bad things to continue to happen to this country," Trump said. "So, Gov. Romney, go out and get them. You can do it."
Romney expressed surprise with Trump’s endorsement.
“There are some things that you just can’t imagine happening in your life,” Romney said. “This is one of them. Being at Donald Trump’s magnificent hotel and having his endorsement is a delight. I am so honored and pleased to have his endorsement.”
During a tour of a forklift manufacturing plant in Las Vegas Thursday morning, Gingrich said he did not expect an endorsement from Trump and expressed amazement about how much attention Trump was getting. A spokesman for Gingrich declined to comment on Trump's decision.
Gingrich's Nevada campaign showed signs of disorganization Wednesday. The Washington Post reported on its website that the former House speaker abruptly canceled a meeting with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval after his campaign had arranged a photo opportunity at Sandoval's office in Carson City. Dan Burdish, a Nevada campaign aide for Gingrich, called the matter a miscommunication Thursday.
And just after 4 p.m. Wednesday, only four volunteers were at work in Gingrich's Las Vegas campaign office, though one said others were making calls from their homes. One of the volunteers working in the Las Vegas campaign office -- located in a motel conference room on the edge of town -- predicted Gingrich wouldn't win Nevada's caucuses Saturday because Romney's operation is strong here.
"Romney never left" Nevada, Sandra Pierce, a retired tax accountant from North Las Vegas, said in between making campaign calls for Gingrich. "He is the perpetual campaigner in Nevada... I believe Romney will win, but Newt will pick up some delegates."
David Damore -- a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas -- said Gingrich faces long odds in Nevada, which overwhelmingly went to Romney in the 2008 GOP presidential primary.
“He has got no organization here,” Damore, who has written about presidential politics, said of Gingrich. “He is largely sort of outsourcing it to the Tea Party folks here. In comparison, [Texas congressman Ron] Paul really never left the state from four years ago. Romney has significant infrastructure” in Nevada.
“It’s a tough state for him for a lot of reasons,” Damore continued, “and having no infrastructure makes it more difficult.”
Damore said Gingrich could still claim victory by collecting about 30 percent of the caucus vote in Nevada and declare: “This is Romney’s home court. He has been dumping millions in here and look at how well I did.”
Another challenge for Gingrich: no debates are scheduled for Nevada. Gingrich has typically boosted his campaign with feisty debate performances in recent weeks, though he struggled during the last two in Florida.
Also, Nevada has a sizable Mormon population, which is expected to turn out heavily for Romney, a fellow Mormon.
“They are very engaged. They are very organized and this is their candidate,” Damore said of Mormons.
Burdish agreed.
“Romney starts off with probably a solid 20 percent of the caucus just because the Mormons for Romney are going to show up,” Burdish said. “That is very tough."
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