[Hotlanta Mike]

If Marco is staking his personal reputation on the fact that Romney is a conservative, he is going to lose Tea Party support.

I was listening to the Rob Johnson Show WGST-640 (Atlanta) this morning and in the 7:00 am hour they had a leader from the Tea Party Patriots here in GA. She said that after the Dede mess in 2010 Newt Gingrich actively sought out meetings with the Tea Party groups around the country to discuss and gain input. Newt had been very active in seeking Tea Party support.

As a result, most Tea Party groups are rallying around Newt. Santorum is less an option because the Tea Party is not currently concerned with social issues like Santorum is focused on.

So Rubio risks alienating the Tea Party like Nikki Haley (SC Gov) just did.

Brutal Gingrich Super PAC ad: Meet the men who gave us ObamaCare

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/01/24/brutal-gingrich-super-pac-ad-meet-the-men-who-gave-us-obamacare/

[paudio]

If Marco is staking his personal reputation on the fact that Romney is a conservative, he is going to lose Tea Party support.

Yep, just like Newt lost the so-called 'Tea Party' support over his official endorsement of Dede Scozzafava. And look where Newt is now. Politicians change allegiance now and then, as do voters.