Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers is standing with Mitt Romney. Former GOP chair Chris Georgacas is a Ron Paul guy. And Republican National Committeeman Jeff Johnson tweeted his endorsement of Newt Gingrich.
After largely staying quiet on the presidential front, Minnesota Republican powers are placing their picks for president in advance of the state's Feb. 7 caucuses.
In nodding to Romney, Zellers had company. Friday afternoon the Romney campaign announced that he, eight other state lawmakers, including Majority Leader Matt Dean, and about three dozen other Republican activists had endorsed the former Massachusetts governor.
"Mitt Romney is the conservative candidate who has a clear plan to empower small businesses, rebuild the middle class, and create long-lasting economic growth," Zellers said.
The long list of supporters may give Romney powerful voices to speak for him on caucus night across the state.
Paul's endorsement from former Republican party chairman Georgacas could give the unconventional candidate a different power -- that of an backer better known for his establishment connections than his alternative picks.
"I've actually been a Paul support in a low-profile way for some time," said Georgacas. "I think [his philosophy] is more authentic for a lot of conservative activists in the state and a lot of sort of main street Republicans than some might think."
Update: Former GOP chair Ron Carey also appeared on TPT's Almanac program to support Rick Santorum.
