Free Republic

Washington and Des Moines - Throughout the roller-coaster Republican presidential contest, one thing hasn't changed: the stubborn refusal of many tea party supporters to warm up to Mitt Romney. The swift rise and abrupt fall of a succession of GOP candidates has been driven in part by the restless search for a Romney alternative by that group of voters, who energized the GOP's big turnaround in 2010. "They don't trust Mitt Romney," said Simon Conway, a Des Moines radio host popular with tea party followers. "Mitt Romney can be tea party one minute, and the next minute introduce 'RomneyCare'" —...

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) plans to join Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at an event in Virginia next week, according to the governor's office. Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling will also attend what the governor's weekly schedule called a "grassroots event" at the Fairfax County Republican Committee Headquarters in Northern Virginia. Romney's campaign will swing through Virginia next week, starting with a fundraising event in McLean on Tuesday evening. Virginia is a likely swing state in 2012. Bolling has already indicated his support of Romney, but McDonnell said earlier this week that he won't endorse a Republican candidate until...