United Liberty

With polls in Wisconsin showing Mitt Romney with a healthy lead headed into tomorrow’s primary, Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Johnson, both respected conservatives, have endorsed the former Massachusetts Governor in hopes to put him over the top.

Ryan, whose “Path to Prosperity” has become the budget blueprint for House Republicans, endorsed Romney on Friday:

“Who will make the best president? And who has the best chance of defeating Barack Obama? … In my opinion, Mitt Romney is clearly that person,” Ryan said on “Fox & Friends.” “I am convinced that Mitt Romney has the skills, the tenacity, the principles, the courage and the integrity to do what it takes to get America back on track.”

Asked if this was a message he has conveyed to Rick Santorum, Ryan, whose budget plan passed the House on Thursday, said he is planning on speaking to the former Pennsylvania senator later on Friday.

“I’m just convinced now, that if we drag this thing on until summer, it’s going to make it that much harder to defeat Barack Obama this fall,” he added. “The more we drag it out, the harder it is to win in November.”

Johnson, a part of the 2010 Tea Party class who has become a strong voice on health care, announced his support of Romney yesterday during a visit to Meet the Press:

Johnson announced the endorsement on MSNBC’s Meet the Press (MTP), according to a Sunday morning tweet from MTP executive producer Betsy Fischer.

The senator’s support is the latest endorsement for Romney, as Republican party heavyweights seek to coalesce around the GOP front-runner. Johnson’s endorsement follows fellow Wisconsin lawmaker Rep. Paul Ryan (R), who announcement his support for Romney last week.

Johnson brings Tea Party support to Romney, who has battled perceptions by many GOP voters that he is insufficiently conservative.

The endorsement gives a boost to Romney in a state he has already predicted he will win. A loss in the Wisconsin primary could also deliver a knockout punch to GOP contender Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign, strategists have said.

Ryan’s endorsement means more, largely because he is more nationally known among Republicans than Johnson, but both together are certainly bad news for Santorum, who has been falling behind in polls recently.

At this point, if this race lasts past May 1st, I’d be surprised.