(Photo Courtesy of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics Archive)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Kansas political icon Bob Dole is urging fellow Republicans to support front-running presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the state's caucuses. Romney's campaign released a statement Thursday from Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 Republican presidential nominee. The statement came two days ahead of Saturday's GOP presidential caucuses in 96 locations across the state. Dole said Kansas would be well-served if Romney wins the state. He called Romney a main-street conservative. But Romney has no plans to visit Kansas ahead of the caucuses, and his main rival, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, had a rally Wednesday in Lenexa. Santorum also plans to return Friday. Also, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is planning events Friday in Topeka, Wichita and Lawrence. Forty Republican National Convention delegates are at stake in Kansas.