Republican Party presidential primaries

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, are spending the majority of their time in a handful of battleground states — states where the polls say the two are so close that another rally or two could provide enough swing to move a state, and possibly the election, from one candidate to another.

In Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney reached out to Latino voters in an effort to win over their support, especially in crucial swing states. Romney, for the first time, signaled his willingness to confer legal status on illegal immigrants who came to the country at a young age and earn a college degree.

Marco Rubio, the popular, first-term U.S. Senator from Florida, endorsed Mitt Romney for president in an appearance on a Fox News TV program Wednesday night. It’s just the latest endorsement as Romney’s candidacy begins to take on an air of invincibility — at least among the Republican candidates.

The Republican presidential election marched on Wednesday with Mitt Romney winning the Illinois Republican Primary Tuesday night. Pundits said Rick Santorum will face must-win contests in April.

In the 2012 election, the Republican primary contest has shifted to Illinois. It’s the latest state where voters are trying to choose from among the four, remaining mainstream Republican candidates, including Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.