Endorsement Thursday: Pitts for Toomey, Thune for Moran

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) endorsed former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in Pennsylvania’s Senate race on Thursday, signifying growing recognition that Toomey is the GOP’s candidate in the 2010 race.

Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) in recent days made it clear that he’s not actively looking at running for Senate and is focused on exploring the governor’s race instead. That should free up members of the delegation to endorse Toomey, with no other major GOP candidates showing interest.

Pitts joins Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) in backing Toomey.

“I served with Joe in the House of Representatives during my three terms in Congress, and he has been and continues to be a strong ally in the fight for taxpayers and a strong leader for all Pennsylvanians,” Toomey said in a statement.

In other endorsement news, Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) grabbed Sen. John Thune’s (R-S.D.) endorsement in Kansas’s open Senate race. Unlike Toomey, Moran faces primary opposition, with fellow Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) running.

Moran also has the backing of Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.).

“Now, when the stakes are so high for our country, Jerry Moran’s principled leadership and conservative voice are needed in the U.S. Senate,” Thune said in a statement. “Jerry will bring a much-needed vote of common sense for fiscal responsibility, fighting terrorism and deciding the future of our judiciary.”

Tiahrt also announced an endorsement Thursday from the state’s largest anti-abortion rights group, the Kansans for Life PAC.

And as previously reported, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) on Thursday endorsed Marco Rubio over Gov. Charlie Crist in Florida’s GOP Senate primary.