Clint Eastwood endorses Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign

Clint Eastwood has endorsed Republican Mitt Romney in the race for the White House.

Oscar-winning actor and director Clint Eastwood attended a Mitt Romney fundraiser in Sun Valley, Idaho, said to have raised over $2 million.

Clint Eastwood said he was endorsing the Republican because “the country needs a boost somewhere”.

In February Clint Eastwood starred in a Chrysler Superbowl advert, Halftime in America, sparking debate over whether he backed President Barack Obama.

At the time, Clint Eastwood had said he was not endorsing either candidate and, speaking to Fox News, said he was “certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama”.

“It was meant to be a message about just about job growth and the spirit of America,” Clint Eastwood said in February of the Super Bowl advert.

“I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK. I am not supporting any candidate at this time.”

On Friday Mitt Romney said of Clint Eastwood’s endorsement: “He just made my day. What a guy.”

After an introduction from Mitt Romney, Clint Eastwood spoke to about 325 guests gathered for the Idaho fundraiser.

Clint Eastwood said he first saw Mitt Romney when he was running for governor of Massachusetts, and Eastwood was directing the film Mystic River in Boston.

The actor said he thought: “God, this guy, he’s too handsome to be governor. But it does look like he could be president.”

Backing Mitt Romney, Clint Eastwood added that Romney would “restore a decent tax system… so there’s a fairness and people are not pitted against each other,” according to reports from Idaho.

Mitt Romney is challenging Barack Obama for the White House in November’s presidential elections.

Also on Friday figures showed that the US added 163,000 jobs in the month of July, but national unemployment rose to 8.3% from 8.2%.

Correspondents say the health of the US economy is likely to become a decisive factor in the outcome of the election.