Mitt Romney backs Elan Carr, long-shot contender for Waxman seat

Former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has lent his support to gang prosecutor Elan Carr, the long-shot candidate to succeed Rep. Henry Waxman this fall.

Carr, a first-time candidate, military veteran and son of Israeli immigrants, has attracted attention to his race, despite the long odds of his defeating state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) to succeed Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), who is retiring after 40 years in Congress.

One of three Republicans among the 18 candidates on the June ballot, Carr finished first in the primary, while Lieu, one of 10 Democrats, came in second.

Most political observers are calling Waxman’s 33rd Congressional District seat a safe one for Democrats and Lieu has racked up supporters on both sides of the political aisle.

But Carr is mounting an energetic campaign and has won support from such prominent Republicans as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. The National Republican Congressional Committee recently named Carr to its top tier of promising candidates.

“Elan has the experience and determination needed to win in November and join the fight against the big-government policies that are hurting working families in California,” Romney said in a statement released Monday by the Carr campaign.

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