Updated: September 5, 2011, 3:48PM
If you’re a Republican running for president, there are few endorsements you want more than that of tea party hero Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC). And today, contenders for next year’s nomination are in South Carolina to kiss DeMint’s ring.
DeMint is hosting a candidate forum on Monday afternoon bringing Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Herman Cain to the Palmetto State. The event is a big one for the 2012 candidates, as DeMint holds sway nationally over one of the most activist branches of the GOP (he’s among the tea party’s favorite politicians) as well as with Republicans back home (South Carolina votes early in the primary season, and loves to say it “picks Presidents.”)
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was also scheduled to attend, skipped the event to return to Texas, which is dealing with raging wildfires.
For Perry, the event would have been something of a victory lap after phase one of his presidential campaign, which he launched in South Carolina last month. The Texas governor is dominating polls in South Carolina, and on his last trip through the state he was greeted warmly.
For Romney, the event could be critical. After watching Perry steal almost all of the former frontrunner’s spotlight these past couple weeks, Romney is reaching out to the tea party — who seem less than thrilled to take him up on his offer. DeMint was a Romney backer in 2008, but has since tried to distance himself from the former Massachusetts governor and his tea party Kryptonite of a state health care plan. Romney wasn’t even supposed to go to DeMint’s event, but last week he rejiggered his schedule to find time for DeMint and his tea party friends.
Bachmann also hopes to make a big resurgence in South Carolina, though her chances seem to be diminishing with each day since Perry got in the race. Still, Bachmann’s got plenty of tea party friends — and she’s not giving up without a fight. Sunday night, she stayed at the governor’s mansion with conservative superstar Gov. Nikki Haley (R) and she’ll likely find a nice welcome at DeMint’s candidate forum.
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