TAMUNING, Guam >>The drawn-out race for the Republican presidential nomination has translated into something not often seen in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands: attention from the candidates. 

Mitt Romney’s son, Matt, visited the Northern Marianas a day ahead of Saturday’s caucus, and his father picked up the endorsement of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial. 

After his visit, Matt Romney flew to Guam and planned to speak at the GOP state convention, where delegates were meeting Saturday to vote on a Republican presidential nominee. 

The neighboring U.S. islands in the Pacific each will send nine delegates to the Republican National Convention in August. Guam’s delegates are bound to the candidate who receives the most votes at the caucus. Those from the Northern Mariana Islands are free to back whoever they choose.