Former Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell is not a witch.
She’s a “leader in the conservative movement,” Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Tuesday.
The former Massachusetts governor made the comments praising O’Donnell — best remembered during the 2010 campaign for past comments on witchcraft and opposition to masturbation — in reaction to her endorsement of his presidential campaign.
In 2010, O’Donnell pulled off a surprise primary victory against Delaware Republican Rep. Mike Castle with the aid of tea partiers from across the country. She went on to lose in the general election to now Democratic Sen. Chris Coons.
Romney may call her a conservative leader, but there are conservatives out there who aren’t fans.
In 2004, she accused the conservative Intercollegiate Studies Institute organization of “gender discrimination” while she worked there. She dropped the suit in 2008.
And recently, 15 tea party groups turned down the chance to meet with her, citing in a letter her past statements that “tea partiers should unite regardless of which candidate wins.”
National Democrats appear to think the endorsement could hurt Romney. The Democratic National Committee forwarded a copy of Romney’s press release about O’Donnell’s backing to reporters only 28 minutes after Romney’s campaign sent it out.
Said Romney: “Christine recognizes that excessive government threatens us now and threatens future generations, and I am pleased to have her on my team.”