Thaddeus McCotter drops 2012 bid for president, endorses Mitt Romney

McCotter is the second presidential candidate who exited the race to endorse Mitt Romney. | AP Photo Close

By REID J. EPSTEIN | 9/22/11 4:30 PM EDT

Michigan Rep. Thad McCotter, whose long-shot campaign for the GOP presidential nomination never gained attention or traction — and only 35 votes at the Ames Straw Poll, despite his presence there — ended his campaign on Thursday and endorsed Mitt Romney, his New Hampshire campaign spokesman confirmed Thursday.

Several candidates had already begun to make moves to run for McCotter’s seat in a redrawn Michigan district, making clear that they were not waiting to give deference to him. McCotter’s announcement, first reported by The Detroit News, comes days before state Sen. Mike Kowall’s campaign kickoff this weekend at the biennial Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island.

Kowall told POLITICO he still intends to seek the suburban Detroit seat.
“It doesn’t change my position at all,â€