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Cantor May Endorse a Presidential Candidate

Eric Cantor says he may step into the Republican presidential race after all.

The No. 2 House Republican said he might make an endorsement before a nominee is decided, MSNBC reported Friday.

“The more we can coalesce around a single nominee the more straightforward the choice will be for the for American people,” said Cantor, the top-ranking Jewish Republican. “I dont know if i’ll endorse before it’s over. I’m leaving the option open.”

Like House Speaker John Boehner, Cantor has so far remained neutral throughout the primary process. This is the first time he has suggested he will pick a candidate before the race is decided.

It’s not clear if Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich might have the inside track to win a possible nod from Cantor.

The Virginia Republican is closer to the conservative wing of the party championed by Gingrich. But the tone of his comments seemed to be GOP unity, which might lead one to think he was considering getting on board Romney’s bandwagon.

House GOP Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling had previously been the top member of the Republican leadership to make an endorsement. Hensarling was backing his home state candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who pulled the plug on his stumbling campaign this week.

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