Romney accepts Trump endorsement in Utah Senate race

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump endorsed former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for a U.S. Senate seat in Utah, setting aside longstanding differences with a GOP critic as the party looks to preserve its narrow majority in the chamber.

“He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement!” Trump wrote in a message on Twitter late Monday.

Romney — the 2012 GOP presidential nominee and former Massachusetts governor — announced Friday that he would run to succeed Sen. Orrin Hatch, a strong Trump supporter who decided not to seek an eighth term despite the president’s entreaties.

Trump’s support could provide a lift to Romney in a state that the president won by 18 percentage points in 2016.

His endorsement may also help contain the pro-trump, anti-establishment forces in the Republican Party that influenced decisions by GOP Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jeff Flake of Arizona to retire after this year, although a Corker spokesman has said he might reconsider.

Shortly after Trump’s endorsement, Romney posted a note of gratitude on his own Twitter feed.

“Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah,” he wrote.