California Republican State Senator Tom McClintock of Ventura County has announced his support of Fred Dalton Thompson's candidacy for the Republican Party presidential nomination. Thompson is a former US Senator from Tennessee.

Senator Tom McClintock's endorsement may carry significant clout among California Republican party voters. McClintock, though having failed at five attempts at statewide office, nevertheless remains a popular figure among self-described conservatives who comprise a large segment of the California Republican Party's voter base.

Here is how conservative activist and right-leaning internet news site publisher Jon Fleischman reacted to the development of a McClintock endorsement of Thompson's candidacy:

In a Republican primary in California, clearly the gold-standard in endorsements is State Senator Tom McClintock.  For two decades now, McClintock has been so forceful and articulate in support of conservative principles and values that he has one the hearts of Republicans throughout the state.  McClintock has also been the GOP standard bearer in several election cycles for various statewide offices, and one wide-spread accolades for the statesman-like approach he took as a candidate in the Recall election.  In my campaign for Vice Chairman, South, of the State GOP, it was Tom McClintock whom I asked to speak on my behalf at the convention.

Well, just moments ago, McClintock stood side-by-side with former United States Fred Thompson in Sacramento and announced his endorsement of Thompson's bid for the Presidency.  Thompson announced that McClintock would be serving as the California Chairman of his campaign.  Clearly this is great news for Thompson, as much has been made of the fact that conservatives have been having a hard time settling on a choice in this contested GOP primary.  Many thousands of GOP activists and donors throughout the Golden State have come to rely on McClintock's leadership and guidence, so it will be interesting to see how many follow the State Senator's lead, and rally behind the candidacy of Thompson.

Read Senator McClintock's own words of support for Fred Dalton Thompson here.

McClintock joins San Bernardino County Republican leaders Senator George Runner, Assemblymember Bill Emmerson and Fourth District County Supervisor Gary Ovitt in backing the former US Senator's presidential bid.