At least a dozen Republicans are chasing the party's presidential nomination. But which of them will get a boost from Illinois' new, and privately wealthy, Republican governor?
During his campaign for the governor's mansion, Bruce Rauner kept bringing one well-known Republican in for help: New Jersey's Gov. Chris Christie.
"Well, I'm thrilled to be back in Illinois. I'm going to be back a number of times over the course of the next 55 days," Christie said while stumping for Rauner in Springfield last September.
But Rauner isn't going to return the favor.
"I am very clearly, specifically staying out of that," he said Tuesday when asked of his endorsement plans.
Nor would he narrow down a list of top picks.
"I have six pretty good personal friends running in the Republican primary," Rauner said, including with "virtually all" of the candidates who are governors. He specifically named Florida's former Gov. Jeb Bush (with whom he said he's worked on education policy), Wisconsin's Scott Walker, and Louisiana's Bobby Jindal.
While none will get his endorsement, Rauner says, he's cheering for them.
