( CNN ) -- Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has scored the endorsement of Bob Dole , who lauded the former Massachusetts governor in an ad Sunday in Iowa 's The Des Moines Register newspaper . The public endorsement comes one day after the Register -- Iowa 's largest newspaper -- backed Romney in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination and just over two weeks before Iowa 's critical presidential caucuses on January 3 . In his advertisement , Dole said Romney is the GOP candidate is best suited to defeat President Barack Obama in 2012 . `` I 've known Mitt and his family for decades . His parents instilled in him a strong work ethic , rock-solid conservative values , and a deep sense of service to others , '' the former Kansas senator and 1996 GOP presidential nominee wrote . `` These traits -- which have shone through in both the debates and in my own visits with him -- will serve him well in the White House . '' Dole also said Romney `` rescued a flailing Winter Olympics when it was mired in financial scandal . '' And as governor of Massachusetts , Dole wrote , Romney `` managed to both balance the state 's budget and cut taxes while dealing with an overwhelmingly Democratic state legislature . '' The Register 's editorial board said Romney was the most qualified candidate competing in the caucuses . While the paper did n't endorse Romney during his last run for president in 2007 , the editorial board said voters now face a different GOP field and Romney `` has matured as a candidate . '' `` Rebuilding the economy is the nation 's top priority , and Romney makes the best case among the Republicans that he could do that , '' the editorial board wrote . The board hailed Romney for his `` solid credentials , '' saying he was the most likely candidate to see through `` knee-jerk , ideological '' perspectives and `` bridge the political divide in Washington . '' Taking issue with the two other top-tier candidates , the paper claimed Romney stood out against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich , whom the board called `` an undisciplined partisan who would alienate , not unite , if he reverts to mean-spirited attacks on display as House speaker . '' It also criticized Texas Rep. Ron Paul as someone with a libertarian ideology that would `` lead to economic chaos and isolationism . '' Also significant , the board somewhat defended Romney against a line of attack taken by opponents who criticize him as a `` flip-flopper . '' `` Though Romney has tended to adapt some positions to different times and places , he is hardly unique . It should be possible for a politician to say , ' I was wrong , and I have changed my mind ' , '' the paper wrote . But the paper still reserved questions over his changing tune on issues such as abortion and said it was up to the voters to decide `` whether such subtly nuanced statements express Romney 's true beliefs or if he 's trying to have it both ways . '' While the paper 's endorsement is highly coveted , it does not necessarily spell success for a candidate . In the last election cycle , the paper endorsed GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona , who did n't actively campaign in the state and took third place in the caucuses , while former Arkansas Gov . Mike Huckabee pulled off a surprise victory . The newspaper has long endorsed candidates for the general presidential election , but it began making endorsements for the caucuses in 1988 . Since then , three of its choices went on to win the contest : Dole in 1996 and 1988 and then-Texas Gov . George W. Bush in 2000 . In addition , three endorsees eventually secured the Republican nomination : Dole in 1996 , Bush in 2000 and McCain in 2008 . Only one of its chosen candidates - Bush in 2000 - went on to win the White House . According to an American Research Group poll taken Dec. 8-11 , Romney placed second in the Hawkeye State with 17 % of support among likely caucus voters , while Gingrich took first with 22 % . Paul tied with Romney at 17 % . On Friday , Romney garnered a nod from South Carolina Republican Gov . Nikki Haley . South Carolina 's primary , set for January 21 , is the first presidential contest in the South and the third overall in the early voting season . CNN 's Peter Hamby , Robert Yoon , Oliver Janney and Chris Welch contributed to this report .
The two endorsements occurred about two weeks before the Iowa caucus . Bob Dole and The Des Moines Register 's editorial board endorsed ##s Romney 's credentials . The paper 's support is coveted , but a number of previous picks have not won the White House . Romney earlier received the endorsement of South Carolina Gov . Nikki Haley .