The Republican Party of Florida released a statement from Gov. Rick Scott after Rick Santorum suspended his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination on Tuesday.

“There is no question that Rick Santorum ran a hard fought campaign,” Scott said. “I commend his passion and his willingness to put the best interest of our party and nation first.

“Mitt Romney will be our party’s nominee and it is critical that all Republicans coalesce behind Governor Romney and focus on electing him as president so he can put the policies in place to create jobs, turn our economy around and get federal spending under control.”

The Florida Democratic Party was quick to criticize the endorsement.

“If you like Rick Scott, you’re going to love Mitt Romney,” Democratic Party spokeswoman Brannon Jordan stated in a release.