Romney to Endorse McCain

Mitt Romney, John McCain's former chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination, will endorse the Arizona senator, officials familiar with the decision said Thursday.

Romney will make the endorsement later Thursday at his campaign headquarters in Boston and will release his 280 delegates and ask them to support McCain, said officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid pre-empting the announcement.

The former Massachusetts governor dropped out of the race last week after it became apparent that toppling McCain would be near impossible given his lead in the hunt for convention delegates.

Romney made his decision on Thursday, one official said, in hopes of helping McCain get the delegates he needs to secure the Republican Party nod and unite the GOP while Democrats continue to battle for their own nomination.

The endorsement came together quickly.

Romney's campaign notified McCain's camp after Romney made the decision, and McCain's campaign adjusted its campaign schedule to fly to Boston to accept the endorsement because the senator was campaigning in nearby Rhode Island.