Jindal Endorses Romney for GOP Nomination

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced support for Mitt Romney after rival Rick Santorum bowed out of his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

In a statement, Jindal congratulated the GOP front-runner “on winning a hard-fought race," adding, "I look forward to supporting him in retiring President (Barack) Obama."

Jindal added that it was time for Republicans to rally and focus on the matter at hand: beating Obama.

"It's time for all Republicans to focus their energies on the fall campaign, which will give Americans a fundamental choice between Obama's lurch toward European-style big government and the Republican alternative of a thriving private sector with a smaller government," wrote Jindal, according to the CBS News website.

Jindal had been an ardent supporter of Texas Gov Rick Perry for the GOP nod, and Newsmax announced his support for Perry in September.

Jindal joins a growing cadre of influential Republicans backing Romney, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Govs. Terry Branstad and Rick Scott, according to Politico, indicating that the party is closer to identifying Romney as the presumptive nominee.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul lag far behind Romney in most polls. A CNN/ORC International poll taken in late March indicated Romney had 36 percent support, with Paul and Gingrich trailing with 17 and 15 percent, respectively.