Shhhhhhhhh! Rick Santorum endorses Mitt Romney. Very, very quietly.

You can now add Rick Santorum to the list of half-hearted endorsers of Mitt Meh Romney'but don't tell anyone because apparently, it's a secret:

Rick Santorum endorsed presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney late Monday night in an email to supporters, saying a private meeting with the former Massachusetts governor last Friday gave him confidence that issues important to him and his supporters would be well represented in the general election.

Rather than the usual embrace between candidates, which often comes with a joint appearance and a photo op, Santorum's email landed at about 11 p.m., ran on for more than 1,000 words, and did not get to the actual endorsement until the 13th paragraph. It was immediately labeled by some pundits as the very picture of tepid support.

In fact, "tepid" is putting it nicely:

The primary campaign certainly made it clear that Governor Romney and I have some differences. But there are many significant areas in which we agree: the need for lower taxes, smaller government, and a reduction in out-of-control spending. We certainly agree that abortion is wrong and marriage should be between one man and one woman. I am also comfortable with Governor Romney on foreign policy matters, and we share the belief that we can never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. And while I had concerns about Governor Romney making a case as a candidate about fighting against Obamacare, I have no doubt if elected he will work with a Republican Congress to repeal it and replace it with a bottom up, patient, not government, driven system.

Wow. Rick's "comfortable" with Romney. If that utter lack of enthusiasm didn't sway you, perhaps this will:

Governor Romney will be that nominee and he has my endorsement and support to win this the most critical election of our lifetime.

But given how lukewarm all of the endorsements of Meh Romney have been thus far, maybe he should just be grateful that Santorum refrained from repeating his earlier comments:

Why would we put someone up who is uniquely - pick any other Republican in the country ' he is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama.

Good question, Rick. But apparently, that one-hour meeting in Pittsburgh last Friday convinced you that Mitt's not the worst Republican the option you poor Republicans are stuck with. So you might as well get "comfortable" with it.