NRA may endorse presidential pick early

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The National Rifle Association may endorse a U.S. presidential hopeful months earlier than usual, The Washington Times reported Tuesday.

The NRA, with its 4 million members, historically waits until about a month before the November general election to make its endorsement, said the NRA's head lobbyist, Chris Cox.

"That being said, given the candidates and the process and the front-loading of the primaries, it is a possibility that we could get involved in one of these presidential primaries," Cox told the Times.

The NRA endorsed George Bush just a month before the general election in 2000 and 2004 and provided millions of dollars in advertisements, phone banks and other get-out-the-vote efforts, the Times said.

The NRA didn't endorse a Republican presidential candidate in 1992 or 1996 and the Republican candidate lost each race to Bill Clinton.