Atwater Endorses Perry Presidential Bid

State Rep. Todd Atwater from Lexington, along with 20 other Republican state lawmakers on Wednesday, endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry's bid to win the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

"Our country needs a leader who can balance the budget and create jobs," Atwater said Wednesday. "I believe Rick Perry is that leader. He has a record of maintaining a balanced budget without raising taxes while creating jobs." 

Atwater, who holds the District 87 seat last held by Gov. Nikki Haley, added: "We cannot afford another four years of a plummeting job market and out-of-control spending. We need to send Rick Perry to Washington."

Atwater and other state Republican lawmakers announced their endorsement of Perry as the governor's wife, Anita Perry, officially opened the campaign's state headquarters in Columbia.

Atwater, along with 15 other state representatives and five state senators, will serve on Perry's State Legislative Steering Committee.

"It truly is an honor to receive the endorsements of these respected lawmakers of the South Carolina Assembly," Perry said on his campaign Web site. "These conservative leaders understand that our nation cannot afford four more years of an administration that is trying to tax and spend our nation to prosperity."

In addition to Atwater, other Midlands lawmakers on the official Perry bandwagon include Sen. Ronnie Cromer of Newberry, and state representatives Bill Hixon and Bill Taylor of Aiken.

For the complete list of endorsers, click here. 

A released Tuesday showed Perry holding a narrow lead on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney among S.C. Republicans.

, Perry held a double-digit lead on Romney.