McConnell Says Romney 'Obviously' Will Be Nominee, But Stops Short of Endorsement

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called on Republicans to rally behind Mitt Romney, saying he will likely be the nominee, but stopped short of an endorsement on Sunday.

“I think he’s going to be an excellent candidate and I think that the chances are overwhelming that he will be our nominee,” McConnell said on CNN’s State of the Union, adding that the race was in its “final phases.”

“Most of the members of the Senate Republican Conference are either supporting him or the have the view that I do, that it’s time to turn our attention to the fall campaign and make the case against the President of the United States,” he said.

However, McConnell did not endorse Romney, who picked up several high profile endorsements in the last week.

“The people of Wisconsin are going to speak Tuesday, and the District of Columbia and Maryland. I have not felt they needed any advice from me as to what to do. But I think it’s absolutely apparent that it’s in the best interest of the party at this particular point to get behind the person who is obviously going to be our nominee.”

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