Top suburban GOPers backing Romney, if decided

As Iowans prepare to gather in schools, churches and living rooms to vote for a Republican candidate for president, some federal lawmakers from the suburbs have begun to line up behind Mitt Romney.

Others have yet to endorse a favorite.

Republicans Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park, Rep. Robert Dold of Kenilworth and Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale have all backed Romney as their preferred candidate.

Suburban Illinois lawmakers have started to back Romney gradually. Biggert backed Romney in October. Dold made his announcement in November. And Kirk did it in December.

At the time, Kirk called Romney a “fiscal conservative and national security hawk,” and the “most conservative candidate who can win.”

But spokesmen for Republican Reps. Randy Hultgren of Winfield, Joe Walsh of McHenry and Peter Roskam of Wheaton all said Monday that their bosses had yet to endorse even as Iowa prepares for its primary caucuses.

The backing of prominent Illinois politicians could make some difference in voters’ minds if the Republican nomination is still unclear when the state has its primary March 20.

The remaining undecided lawmakers, though, could be a symptom of a Republican race that has seen its presumed front-runner change often.

Even this summer, some Illinois Republicans demurred about who they’d back, saying they wanted to see how the field shook up.

Since then, the field hasn’t quit shaking up. The GOP Iowa caucuses — though non-binding — might provide some clarity Tuesday.

The most recent polls show Romney, Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Rick Santorum at the top of the Iowa race. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are all hoping to gain some momentum in Iowa, too. Jon Huntsman has mostly ignored Iowa, choosing to instead focus on later primary states.