Washington (CNN) – Republican Sen. Jim DeMint isn’t sold on who to support in the 2012 presidential election, but Jon Huntsman will not make his list.

 

Media Credit: Iron Mill News Service

The South Carolina king maker and early supporter of the tea party movement has called on Republican presidential candidates to sign a “cut, cap, balance” pledge to slash spending and balance the budget. He has said a commitment to the pledge is necessary to win his support that could prove valuable in the early voting state of South Carolina and within his larger conservative following. 

Huntsman, a former Utah governor who served as President Obama’s U.S. ambassador to China, lost DeMint’s support when he refused to sign the pledge one day after he announced his bid for the White House.

“For me, he’s out,” DeMint said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Four Republican presidential candidates signed the pledge: Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. Huntsman told CNN Wednesday that “Other than the pledge of allegiance, I don’t do a whole lot of pledges.”

via CNN.com Blogs.

Full Transcript of CNN’s “State of the Union” here | Iron Mill News Service.