NH Tea Party Leaders Endorse Santorum

A day after Michele Bachmann dropped out of the presidential race, one of her biggest boosters in New Hampshire has decided to throw his support behind Rick Santorum.

Jerry DeLemus, chairman of the Granite State Patriots Libery PAC and the founder of the Rochester 9-12 Project, announced minutes ago that he is backing Santorum. His wife, State Rep. Sue DeLemus, R-Rochester, is also supporting the former Pennsylvania Senator.

Jerry DeLemus had , after months of agonizing over the decision. He has frequently criticized Mitt Romney for failing to appear before New Hampshire Tea Party groups, and even led an in September at a Tea Party Express event in Concord where the former Massachusetts governor was scheduled to speak.

"This Republican Primary season has been a roller coaster ride and quite frustrating at times for those of us involved in the Tea Party movement," DeLemus said in a statement released by the Santorum campaign. "I have found a candidate that doesn't have to apologize for his voting record or his public statements, a candidate that has been consistent and has the integrity to stand up for his beliefs and those of our Founders."

Sue DeLemus added that she is "proud to join the fight with Rick Santorum," and praised his positive campaign, which she said is "based on the values found in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence."

The endorsements are another boost to the surging Santorum campaign. A CNN poll of New Hampshire voters conducted after his close second place finish in Iowa showed that he has 10 percent support here, which puts him in fourth place behind Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman.