MITT ROMNEY has won the backing of Republican Senator John McCain to be the party’s 2012 presidential candidate after his Iowa win.

    Veteran Senator McCain, who was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee against Democrat Barack Obama, called on supporters to crown Romney this time around and then catapult him into the White House in the November U.S presidential elections.

    “Our message to President Barack Obama is: ‘You can run but you can’t hide from your record,’” said the decorated Vietnam War veteran, who accused Obama of “destroying our national security.”

    McCain, who carries huge political weight, remains popular in New Hampshire, where he beat Romney 37-31 percent four years ago.

    His backing for Romney reflected an effort by the Republican establishment to avoid an intra-party bloodletting that could leave the eventual nominee in a weakened position to take on Obama.

    (SD-Agencies)