FreedomWorks: "We're not in the tank for Romney at all"

Dick Armey, FreedomWorks chairman and former U.S. House Majority Leader.

/ AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

FreedomWorks, the organization that helped build the Tea Party movement, is denying a report that it is supporting Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination, telling CBS News the group is "not supporting Romney" right now, nor is it supporting anyone else.

"We're not in the tank for Romney at all," said Jackie Bodnar, press secretary for FreedomWorks, in an interview with Hotsheet. "We have 1.6 million activists around the country and those are the people we take feedback from on whether or not to endorse - and they've specifically told us not to support."

"We're not particularly excited about the way things are playing out" in the Republican presidential race, she added.

Bodnar disputed a recent Washington Times' article's characterization that Romney has the group's "support" or that it believes "the time has come for Republicans to unite around the former Massachusetts governor and focus on defeating President Obama," as the article alleges.

"What we were trying to convey is that if you look at the polls the numbers, they say he's the frontrunner. We're not applauding that. We were just commenting as an outside observer," she said. "We don't really have a natural candidate that we're supporting right now."

According to Bodnar, the organization is focusing its efforts on electing conservative lawmakers in the House and the Senate so that, "regardless of who is in the White House" come 2013, there are members of Congress in place who "can push [the president] as far as possible to the right on their economic policy."

Bodnar said it was "too early to say" whether or not FreedomWorks would support Romney in the event that he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

"At this time I can't really say," she said. "Obviously we're looking for the best alternative to Barack Obama."

But she emphasized that "we certainly are not coming out in support of Romney at this time."

Bodnar also disputed the Times' claim that FreedomWorks has decided to "drop its opposition to [Romney's] candidacy," noting that FreedomWorks has "never really opposed or protested Romney as a presidential candidate."

"We protested his claim that his policies were in line with the Tea Party movement," Bodnar said. "We don't believe he has a consistent record of fiscally consistent policies."

Romney has struggled in the past to secure support from conservatives, although exit polls from Tuesday night's Illinois primary suggest that he may be gaining ground with the Tea Party. According to exit polls, Romney won last night among voters who called themselves members of the Tea Party. Among those who self-identified as "strongly" supporting the Tea Party, he eked out a narrow lead over Santorum, 42 percent to 41 percent. Among those who said they "somewhat" support the Tea Party, however, Romney beat Santorum 52 percent to 31 percent.

[IronKnuckle]

I don't understand why FreedomWorks is able to garner headlines with stuff like this. Their desperate, desperate and horribly negative campaign against Orrin Hatch has failed in Utah. At the rate they're going, FreedomWorks will best be known for being a waste of donor dollars. They'd have a better track record IF they had supported Romney.

[thebob-bob]

Time for the TEA party-ers to hush up and obey their Corporate masters. They were set up, used and abused by The Powers and now that they're no-longer useful, no coverage, no nothing. Thanks for the distraction. Now, be good little rightwing nutjobs and do what you're told.

[SnowCypher]

This "clarification" just makes me less likely to support Freedom Works. The GOP primary is essentially over and their guy (Santorum) lost because he lost his credibility. By being slow to recognize that fact, their own credibility is on the line and they are showing the same level of intransignce that ultimately doomed the Santorum campaign. Tea Party darling Sarah Palin has already worn out her welcome with a lot of Romney supporters, now it's Dick Armney's turn.

[SnowCypher]

Seeing typos after hitting send is always a bummer. "intransigence" and "Armey" respectively for anyone who cannot overlook the typos.

[DebbieCorona]

This is such BS. The TEAParty added Rich Cream (big $$) and stirred. It's not what it was in the beginning straight TEA its a new beverage.

[rc00213]

Romney - The liberals' favorite GOP Candidate. Don't vote for Romney. Please tell all your friends to vote, we need a big turnout.
These are a few reasons why Romney is considered liberal:

1) Romney created RomneyCare which ObamaCare is based on. Romney said he would repeal ObamaCare. Why would he if he supports RomneyCare, he is not telling the truth.

2) Most decisions Romney made as Govenor was liberal, not conservative. So, what make you think he will be conservative all of a sudden?

3) Romney lost to McCain by a landslide last GOP Primary, and McCain lost to Obama by a landslide. So, how is Romney going to win this time?

4) When Obama wishes Romney well in the election and name calls and villianizes the other candidates, beware!

5) Have you noticed the mass press and critics have shredded apart every GOP candidate except Romney? That is because they know Romney fits their agenda.

Please, if you love the USA, vote for anyone but Romney.

[nearl451]

OK. I'll put you down for a $200 donation to Obama for Pres.

[greenlantern1]

The Constitution predates the Book of Mormon.
Was the book, of men, written before the WORD OF GOD?

[nearl451]

I consider both efforts experiments.

[Lindag10]

Doubt that Romney WANTS their support as every one of their favorites has crashed and burned. LOL

[jimbom121]

Sure Freedomworks won't line up behind Romney...sure the won't...wink, nod, wink, nod.

[Anybody77]

Well it is time to get behind Romney! He is a fiscal conservative and that is what the Tea Party has been preching for over 2 years!

[jimbom121]

How is he a fiscal conservative? Did you look at his governing record? Its far from fiscally conservative.

[Lindag10]

Real fiscal conservative? You're kidding. He wants to CUT taxes EVEN more on the rich and SPEND more on the military and defense. Doesn't sound like conservative to me, but if you're buying what the snake oil salesman is selling, so be it.

[longtree-2009]

the tea party seems to be made up of cantankerous old people. wonder if they have any 20 something members or even 30 something members. would like to see ron paul and newt gingrich drop out and let the two romney and santorum continue the race. newt and paul are just draining off votes to satisfy their egos as no one in their right mind would vote for either excepting for conservatives, evangelicals and libertarians. libertarians because that is what ron paul was before ditching that party to run as a republican. paul is no republican.