Bachmann endorses Mitt Romney at Virginia campaign stop - KMSP-TV

Rep. Michele Bachmann officially endorsed Mitt Romney at a campaign event in Virginia on Thursday.

Bachmann, the founder of the Tea Party Caucus in Congress, suspended her own presidential campaign in January shortly after finishing in sixth place in the Iowa caucuses.

Bachmann issued this statement:

"This November, Americans will be at the polls with a serious choice- they can vote for more of Barack Obama's transformation of America, with more joblessness, higher energy prices, fewer opportunities for our children, more government controls, bailouts, and failed economic policies, or they can vote for a new vision of prosperity and liberty. I'm honored to announce that today, I am endorsing Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States, a man who will preserve the American dream of prosperity and liberty.

We've had a hard fought battle already to choose a candidate. Being personally involved in the endorsement process was an honor for me. And I want to thank everyone involved in the campaigns, from the candidates, the delegates, the volunteers, all of us can be proud of our efforts.

This is the last chance we have to keep America from going "forward", over the cliff, as Governor Romney said, and restore the values of prosperity and freedom. This is the opportunity for conservatives, independents, and disaffected Democrats to join me and Governor Romney in denying Obama a second term. On November 6th, the only option is Mitt Romney for President."

During her own campaign , Bachmann was critical of the health care plan Romney enacted as governor of Massachusetts and said he was incapable of defeating President Obama.

"No he cannot beat Obama because his policy is the basis for Obamacare," she told ABC News then. "The signature issue of Obama is Obamacare. You can't have a candidate who has given the blueprint for Obamacare. It's too identical. It's not going to happen."

Bachmann, 56, has represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2007 and has said she will run for another term this November.