ROSEMONT – Mitt Romney on Friday joined the parade of Republican candidates making stops in Illinois, a state that suddenly finds itself in the unusual position of being a player in the Republican presidential primary race.

Romney, bashed as a moderate by his GOP opponents, picked up the endorsement Friday of the right-leaning Chicago Tribune. The newspaper said it is endorsing the former Massachusetts governor for “his demonstrated abilities and the economic pragmatism at his core.”

The Tribune, whose endorsement of Barack Obama in 2008 general election was its first of a Democratic presidential candidate in its history, also pointed to Romney as being the only Republican still in the race who can “guide Americans through their own financial rescue.”