Romney endorses former staffer

GOP 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney is backing Elise Stefanik (R), a former campaign staffer, in her bid for an upstate New York House seat.

{mosads}”After working with Elise, I know she will make the 21st District proud and she will deliver results,” Romney said in a statement released by Stefanik’s campaign. “Elise understands the needs of small businesses and how to grow the local economy. She is a person of integrity. Every campaign is different, but values don’t change.”

Stefanik, 29, worked in the Bush administration before working on Romney’s campaign, helping Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) prep for his debate against Vice President Biden.

She’s facing off against Matt Doheny (R) in the GOP primary for retiring Rep. Bill Owens’s (D-N.Y.) swing seat.