Washington ? He may be Kansas’ favorite son, but Sen. Sam Brownback shouldn’t count on getting any support for his nascent White House bid from fellow Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

Roberts told a group of lobbyists and corporate officials in Washington this week that he supports Arizona Sen. John McCain’s quest to win support for a presidential run, according to Rick Davis, CEO of McCain’s presidential exploratory committee.

But Roberts said Thursday he is not ready to endorse anyone yet in the wide-open field of possible candidates.

Davis said Roberts spoke for about 15 minutes at the Tuesday morning gathering organized by Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott, the newly elected GOP Senate minority whip.

“He stood up in front of the group and said ‘I’m supporting John McCain,”‘ Davis said. “He focused on the fact that the world is a dangerous place, that you don’t have to believe in every issue McCain supports, but that (McCain) is honest and direct and stands on principle.”

Some of Roberts’ comments were first reported Thursday in a column by conservative columnist Robert Novak in the Washington Post.

In a statement Thursday, Roberts said he attended the meeting at Lott’s request.

“I am not endorsing anyone at this time,” Roberts said. “The Republican field has several outstanding potential candidates, including a Kansas favorite son. Any endorsement at this point would be premature.”

Roberts said McCain previously has asked for advice on agriculture issues, “which I provided and will provide to any candidate who asks.”

A spokesman for Brownback declined to comment.

Davis, who served as campaign manager during McCain’s unsuccessful 2000 bid for president, said he expects Roberts and Lott to be “very effective surrogates” for McCain on the campaign trail.

“I think Roberts will be a very effective advocate (for McCain), not only as a national figure, but also someone who has a great background in agriculture issues and is a leader in the intelligence community,” Davis said.

Davis noted that Roberts is particularly well known in the Midwest and could help McCain reach potential supporters in states like Iowa, site of the first presidential caucuses.

Brownback, who has been weighing a White House bid for nearly two years, also is pinning his hopes on early support from social conservatives in Iowa. Brownback launched his presidential exploratory committee last week, but national polls have shown McCain and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani as front-runners for the GOP nomination.

“I think Roberts feels more ideologically in tune with McCain, versus somebody like Sam Brownback, who tends to be more of a cultural conservative,” said Joe Aistrup, chairman of the political science department at Kansas State University.

“Roberts is known as a moderate in the state of Kansas and certainly John McCain comes out on the more moderate side of the Republican Party,” Aistrup said.

Brownback and Roberts are known to have a cordial relationship and work together on issues important to the state. Aistrup said he is less surprised by Roberts’ support for McCain than at how early that support is coming in the presidential sweepstakes.

While Roberts and Lott are among the earliest congressional lawmakers to comment publicly in favor of a potential presidential candidate, they are not listed as official supporters of McCain’s potential bid.