NEW: House Minority Leader Endorses Hinckley For Senate

NEW: House Minority Leader Endorses Hinckley For Senate

House Minority Leader Brian Newberry has endorsed Barry Hinckley's Senate candidacy, the Hinckley campaign announced today.

Newberry praised Hinckley for his knowledge of the private sector and said the Republican is exactly the person Rhode Island needs in Washington.

"I am writing to endorse Barry Hinckley for US Senate in 2012," Newberry said. "Barry is an intelligent and refreshing candidate who boasts impressive knowledge and experience in the private sector. As the founder and former president of a successful software firm, Barry has abundant and extensive firsthand experience in creating jobs. He knows what challenges exist for job creators and how to solve them. He has exceptional personal and professional integrity, a quality that’s increasingly rare among candidates these days. He calls it like it is and is not afraid to be the bearer of bad news or to face tough challenges. Barry is exactly who Rhode Island needs in the Senate. I have every confidence that he will help our state and our nation out of the mess we are in, and he will bring his experience to bear in creating jobs and bringing us back to prosperity."

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Hinckley said he is grateful for Newberry's endorsement.

Leader Newberry's endorsement is a profound testament to the need for a new direction for Rhode Island. He understands that if we are going to get serious about creating jobs, we will need leaders in Washington who understand how jobs are created. With his support, we are one pivotal step closer to achieving that goal. I am grateful for Leader Newberry's endorsement, and I look forward to working with him to bring real economic growth to Rhode Island