WASHINGTON — Minnesota Republican Erik Paulsen has endorsed Mitt Romney for president.

The Romney campaign put out a statement in which the Minnesota Congressman said Romney has the “proven leadership and experience to put our country back on the path toward economic certainty and stability.”

“These are tough times for our country,” he said. “We need a president who will lead on key issues like tax reform, energy, spending and, most of all, getting Americans back to work.”

Paulsen and fellow Republican Rep. John Kline had backed Tim Pawlenty’s presidential bid, but he dropped out of the race in August, and eventually endorsed Romney. Paulsen is the first of the four Minnesota Republicans in Congress to endorse a candidate since then.

Paulsen, Kline and Rep. Chip Cravaack chose not to endorse fellow House member Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign. She dropped out of the race earlier this month and told Fox News that she has no intention of endorsing a candidate yet.