Republican George Allen picked up his second big-name endorsement of the week in his bid to win back a U.S. Senate seat.
Allen’s campaign announced Thursday that Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, backs the former governor heading into the 2012 GOP primary. The news comes two days after former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani lent his help in a video to Allen supporters asking for donations.
Howell and Allen served together in the House of Delegates between 1988 and 1991 before Allen was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and Howell remained in office through Allen’s term as governor.
“George Allen has truly been one of the finest Governors to ever serve the Commonwealth, and he accomplished all this with a Democrat legislature,” Howell said in a news release.
“He has the experience, the conviction, and the vision needed to get our country back on the right track and restore America’s greatness for the next generation.”
Allen faces a slew of Republican hopefuls in next year’s primary, none of who are close to Allen in the polls or fundraising. The winner will likely face former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine in the 2012 general election to replace U.S. Senator Jim Webb, who decided not to run for re-election.
