Rep. King wants to be kingmaker in Iowa caucuses

King is an outspoken advocate against illegal immigration who has argued for strict border protections. His hard-line positions are at odds with some of the White House contenders, including Gingrich, who has said he favors a pathway to legality for young illegal immigrants. In a signal that King is likely to press the candidates on the immigration issue, Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce (R), who helped pass the state’s controversial anti-illegal-immigration law, is set to attend the March 26 event.
 
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who courted King’s endorsement last cycle, won’t attend the event, and neither will former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
 
As for an endorsement, King said he plans to publicly back a candidate some time between the Ames Straw Poll in August and Thanksgiving.

“I’d like to come to a place where there’s a conviction. I’d like to have my head and my heart come together so I can jump into a full bore as hard as I can with all of my commitment and energy,” he said. “I hope that happens.”