Michael Reagan spoke out in support of Newt Gingrich before the Iowa caucuses, but, today, he released a statement via the Gingrich campaign to announce that he unequivocally endorses the former Speaker of the House. The statement reads as follows:

I am endorsing Newt Gingrich for President and here’s why:

Newt understands that we must reject and fundamentally change the course that Barack Obama has set for America.

Newt is our only chance in 2012 to contrast a Reagan conservative with  Obama’s European’ styled socialism.

Newt exemplifies the conservative principles my father championed.

Strong national defense, lower taxes and smaller government.

In the 90’s Newt’s leadership brought us the Contract with America which changed Washington.

I’m confident Newt can do it again.

We cannot afford a candidate backed by the same Washington insiders who repeatedly tried to undermine my father and the Reagan revolution.

It’s time to choose.

Do we go forward with bold ideas or continue with failed policies?

So I ask my fellow Republicans and conservatives to join me in supporting Newt Gingrich for president.

Perhaps Reagan’s son felt the need to reiterate his support for Gingrich in light of a certain something Mitt Romney said last night. At the South Carolina CNN debate, Romney observed that Ronald Reagan mentioned Gingrich in his diaries just once — and then only in a dismissive tone.

“I mean, he mentions George Bush 100 times,” Romney said. “He even mentions my dad once.”

It was a petty line of attack, that’s for sure. Yes, Gingrich often makes it sound as though he were more influential during the Reagan administration than he was, but, I mean, c’mon! A Ronald Reagan mention is a Ronald Reagan mention!

Indeed, the tone of Michael Reagan’s endorsement certainly seems to be implicitly as much against Mitt Romney as for Newt Gingrich.