Republican hopefuls campaign in Illinois

CHICAGO, March 16 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum hit the hustings Friday in Illinois in advance of its Tuesday primary.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was in the state Wednesday and Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reported. Gingrich told ABC News he expects Illinois to be mostly a two-man contest between Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and Santorum, the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.

Even President Obama, who has no significant opposition within the Democratic party, was in Illinois Friday on a fundraising trip.

Romney, speaking at Pancakes Eggcetera, a diner in the Chicago suburb of Wheeling early Friday, criticized a Democratic documentary on Obama that has been posted on line, the Los Angeles Times reported. He ridiculed producer Davis Guggenheim for saying he could think of nothing bad to say about the president.

"I'll give you some help, Mr. Guggenheim," Romney said. "You can make a call to some of the moms that are having a hard time paying for gas as they get their kids to and from school and practice and music lessons. And you can also talk to the people who are having a hard time getting to and from work, given the price of gasoline."

Romney is expected to do well in the northern part of the state. Santorum, who has shown in southern states that he can appeal to Evangelical Christians, is expected to be stronger downstate.