Yesterday, PPP released polling data showing Mitt Romney atop the GOP field among Republicans in Florida and running strong in five other states, but in an ominous sign for his presidential aspirations, the Chairwoman of the Tea Party Express blasted Romney for the health care plan he put in place as governor of Massachusetts. Speaking to CBN's David Brody, Amy Kremer said this:
David Brody/Brody File Host: On the Massachusetts healthcare situation, you'e going to tell me that's going to fly in the Tea Party movement?
Amy Kremer/Tea Party Express Chairwoman: Absolutely not. I'm being honest here. You can't get away from that, that's the thing - the days of people being able to do one thing in their state in front of a microphone, and then going to Washington and doing something else. The Internet, and 24-hour news cycles changed it all, and these people don't have short memories, they're digging up everything from the past, and they're not going to let go of the health care.
Those are pretty strong words, especially given the Tea Party Express track record in GOP nominating contests. Romney's problem is summed up well by this video in which he defends his support for a health care insurance mandate:
Of course, Romney was correct to support an individual responsibility mandate, but he's since changed his position and now says it is unconstitutional. The question is whether tea partiers will believe him, and based on Kremer's comments, the answer is no.