The Hill News

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said Monday he won't endorse in the Iowa caucuses.

The conservative kingmaker had held out hope to the GOP presidential candidates that he might bestow his blessing before voters made their choices on Tuesday.

But he tweeted Monday: "I just announced on Simon Conway's program on WHO Radio that I will not endorse a candidate in the Iowa Caucus."

It's a big blow to Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann, who are competing for the evangelical voters who make up the majority of Iowa caucus voters. Santorum, in particular, has surged in recent days and King's nod could have given him an even greater boost.

King is close friends with Bachmann and went hunting with Santorum but ultimately did not pick a favorite.

Earlier in the day, in an interview o! n CNN, King said of a possible endorsement: "I will say with each hour that goes by it gets harder to do."

He noted if he didn't endorse it would be out "respect for all the candidates."