The Romney campaign will announce this morning that it received the support of South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis, who is known to have strong ties to the Tea Party movement.

“Mitt Romney has the experience and record South Carolina voters are looking for in the next president,” Loftis said in a statement. “He has worked in the real economy and created jobs and cut spending as governor. These are the qualities that South Carolinians want in the person to replace President Obama and his failed policies.”

Loftis had previously hinted at his support of Romney but made it official the day before Romney was set to make his first trip to South Carolina since launching his presidential campaign in June.

Romney will appear at the South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint’s Palmetto Freedom Forum in Columbia later this afternoon.

The endorsement by Loftis of Romney was first reported by CNN, but confirmed by the Romney campaign during the former Massachusetts’ governor’s appearance at a Tea Party Express event on Concord, N.H., Sunday evening.

Romney, who did not mention the words “tea party” during his speech, did use his stage time to take swipes at both President Obama and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Despite threats by a party protesters to boo Romney during his speech the heckling never happened. The protestors had said they were displeased by what they call Romney’s sudden interest in the Tea Party despite a record they argue that is not in line with the party’s principles.