POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Casas switches endorsement to Romney

As of Thursday, February 9, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

Camie Young

After some dwindling support the past two weeks, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich could also have to worry about his home base.

This week, state Rep. David Casas publicly switched his support from the former Georgia congressman to former Massachussetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

The Republican from Lilburn said he saw recent statements from Gingrich to be attacks on free enterprise and capitalism.

As the son of Cuban immigrants who instilled in him the American dream, Casas said he couldn't sit by and continue his support.

"Really it was an attack that ... usually comes from the left not from someone that is conservative or someone that belongs in our party," Casas said in a conference call. "So I was beside myself, it took me aback and it was just something that I couldn't put up with ...

"My very good friend Senator (Marco) Rubio made a very good case for Gov. Romney in Florida and certainly pointed out some of these things that the speaker was doing. And it was just something that I needed to do."

Romney said he was glad to have support from Casas, one of Georgia's few Hispanic legislators.

"David shares my vision of promoting conservative economic policies to create jobs and get our country back on track," Romney said in a press release. "I look forward to sharing this message with all Georgians in the months to come with his help."

Romney came to Georgia Wednesday, attending a fundraiser in Buckhead.

Political Notebook appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Camie Young can be reached via email at camie.young@gwinnettdailypost.com.

For archived columns, go to www.gwinnettdailypost.com/politics.

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