2012 Contenders Shun Hill Support

POLITICO reports:

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is a Republican powerhouse in his home state, so you’d think GOP presidential candidates would be knocking down his door for an endorsement ahead of the caucuses in the Hawkeye State.

Not so much this year.

“It’s happening a lot less,” Grassley told POLITICO, saying just two candidates have bothered to come calling. Grassley may even delay making an endorsement decision until October, and he warned it’d be “stupid” for any candidates to skip the Iowa caucuses altogether.

Grassley is hardly alone: Across Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers report scant interaction with presidential hopefuls. The chase for congressional backing has been moving at a snail’s pace this year compared with the previous election cycle, a reflection of the slowly forming presidential field, concern in Congress about the strength of the candidates and a desire by White House hopefuls to keep their distance from an unpopular Washington.

“Given the landscape, would you want to be endorsed by some Washington insider?” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who plans to remain neutral in the race, asked half-jokingly. “It’s the kiss of death.”

It’s a remarkable contrast from the summer of 2007, when the endorsement chase on Capitol Hill was well underway. By midsummer 2007, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 29 congressional endorsements compared with 27 for Arizona Sen. John McCain. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani touted his 21 backers, while former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson had 18 supporters.