Bachmann endorses Romney for president

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann endorsed one-time Republican rival Mitt Romney for president Thursday.

Bachmann said electing Romney will be the country's last chance to keep from "going forward" over a cliff. The reference is to President Barack Obama's use of the word "forward" as a campaign slogan.

In a statement announcing her decision, Bachmann said Americans can vote for Obama -- and for more joblessness, higher energy prices, more government controls and failed economic policies. Or, she says, they can vote for Romney and a "new vision of prosperity and liberty."

Bachmann had challenged the former Massachusetts governor for the GOP nomination. She dropped out of the race in January after finishing poorly in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Romney campaigned Thursday in Portsmouth, Va., with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Bachmann. Romney's topic: helping the economy with more energy exploration and development.

Obama carried Virginia in 2008 and it's again a top battleground.

Romney has been mocking Obama's new campaign slogan, "Forward." "It's like, forward, what, over the cliff?" he asks. The GOP super PAC "American Crossroads" has produced an ad called "Backward" in which an announcer states, "The only thing moving forward is the national debt."

It's hard for Obama to boast about the economy right now, since recent reports suggest private-sector job creation has slowed from its pace earlier this year. So the Democrat's campaign is blasting Romney for keeping money in a Swiss bank account and suggesting he shipped jobs overseas.

Romney counters that Obama is "attacking success" and "dividing the American people."