GOP candidates vow to carry tea-party banner

[spanone]

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Five Republican presidential hopefuls pledged their faith in free markets and the Constitution at a campaign forum for conservatives on Monday, although the event lost some luster when Texas Governor Rick Perry was a late no-show.

The 2012 Republican White House contenders appeared separately at the South Carolina forum but shared similar views on the need to slash government, cut taxes and repeal President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul.

"The reason I see us struggling economically is that Washington has become too assertive, too big, too demanding on the lives of the American people," said former front-runner Mitt Romney, who has fallen behind Perry in opinion polls in the Republican race for the right to face Obama in 2012.

Perry, a staunch social and religious conservative, pulled out of the forum earlier on Monday to return home to Texas and supervise the fight against rampaging wildfires.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44401602/ns/politics-decision_2012/#.TmWAiXPtjf8

[tblue]

1. Great! I want them to.

I want them to show their true colors. They are caught between a rock and hard place. The TP is wildly unpopular, but they have to embrace it publicly to get the nomination. Hahaha!

[subterranean]

2. They all want the endorsement of the GOP's self-appointed kingmaker

Jim DeMint. Romney, of course, said whatever he thought DeMint wanted to hear. He'll say anything to get the nomination.

[neverforget]

3. Carrying that flag will be their downfall

I hope