Updated: 9:43 p.m.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he believes Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee, but he stopped short of endorsing him today.

In an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” the Kentucky Republican said that it’s time for people in his party to start looking toward the fall election, when he thinks Romney will face off against President Barack Obama.

“I think he’s going to be an excellent candidate, and I think the chances are overwhelming that he’s going to be our nominee,” he said.

Pressed by host Candy Crowley on why he wouldn’t endorse Romney, McConnell noted that Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington, D.C., still have upcoming primaries.

“I’m not sure the voters of Maryland or the District of Columbia need any advice from me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson endorsed Romney, days ahead of the Wisconsin GOP primary. The freshman Wisconsin Republican said on “Meet the Press” that he is “fully convinced that Gov. Romney is the person to lead our party, to lead our nation,” according to NBC.