ROMNEY MEANS "AMNESTY" BUT DOESN'T MENTION THE WORD (UPDATED 05/25 @ 7:03 AM)

Republican presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney spoke to a group of 305 at the Polk County GOP's annual fundraising dinner this evening at The Lakeland Center. In his remarks Romney said the immigration bill about to be debated before Congress should be rewritten to avoid what he called "rewarding" the 12 million illegals currently in the US.

Romney did receive a local endorsement during the event, from State Senator J.D. Alexander (R - Lake Wales), who said that he is working to bring collegues within the GOP leadership to join the Romney campaign.

Click here to read the first story on Romney's visit and comments from the Lakeland Ledger.

UPDATE: Click here to read the expanded story that appeared in Friday's Ledger.