WASHINGTON--Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney--eyeing a 2012 presidential race--headlines a lunch fund-raiser in Chicago today for GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk--and I'm told Romney is coming to talk about jobs and Kirk.

The campaign thinks that Romney--with his business and governor background "has the right fiscally responsible message that voters want right now. Very in line with Kirk's economic message. "

Here are excerpts from Romney's speech for Kirk:

"As a businessman, I understand what it takes to create jobs and grow our economy. Like me, Mark Kirk is a fiscal conservative - he has been endorsed by job creators like the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business.

"Kirk has a Small Business Bill of Rights that will help create a pro-job, pro-growth environment and common sense ideas to curb the reckless spending.

"The fact is our economy is at a crossroads with Illinois facing higher unemployment than the national average. Illinois must elect a Senator with the experience and policies to control spending and put people back to work."