Sen. Inhofe to back Gov. Perry, says Romney is ‘mushy’ on the environment

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has questioned global warming and criticized climate scientists on the GOP presidential stump, is winning an endorsement from the most prominent climate skeptic on Capitol Hill.

Tulsa World reported that Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) announced the upcoming endorsement at a state Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Wednesday, and an Inhofe aide confirmed the account to The Hill.

“I called Rick Perry a year ago and told him, 'If you're running for president, I'll be the first to endorse you,’ ” the paper quoted Inhofe as saying. “I'm going to be that person on Monday.”

Inhofe said Perry has the best chance to unseat President Obama, the paper reported.

Inhofe strongly disputes the overwhelming view among scientists on climate change, which puts him at odds with Perry rival and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who believes human activities are warming the planet.

The paper reported Inhofe as saying he likes Mitt Romney but that he’s “a little mushy on environmental issues.” Inhofe also made reference to GOP White House candidate Newt Gingrich’s 2008 climate change ad with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The ad featured Gingrich, who was House Speaker in the mid-1990s, sitting on a couch with Pelosi in front of the Capitol discussing the need to combat climate change.

“Newt Gingrich, I always have this vision of him sitting on the couch holding hands with Nancy Pelosi,” Inhofe said in Tulsa World account.

Gingrich last month expressed regret about the spot, which was paid for by the Al Gore-founded Alliance for Climate Protection.

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