Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo made it official this afternoon, the Des Moines Register reported, dropping out of the presidential contest just two weeks before Iowa voters hit the polls.

Tancredo announced he will back one-time rival Mitt Romney, saying the former Massachusetts Governor is "the best hope for our cause" on curbing illegal immigration. The two met for an hour this morning to discuss the issue.

Tancredo has already announced he will not run for re-election next year, though he has made clear that he would like to challenge freshman Colorado Democratic Senator Ken Salazar in 2010.