Tea Party Romney?

Mitt Romney, be it for political reasons, or economic, is opposing the budget deal. Finally. He has been silent on the issue, not wanting to rock the boat of his polling lead in the GOP primaries. It may be a day late and a dollar short, but at least he came down on the right side of the Cut Cap and Balance proposal.

Exeter, N.H. (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney opposes the deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling.

The former Massachusetts governor says the compromise, backed by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders in both parties, opens the door to higher taxes and defense cuts. Romney opposes anything other than the House Republican "cut, cap and balance" approach that required Congress to send a balanced budget amendment to the states.

Politically it may be a smart move to finally decide to come down on the same side of the debate as the Tea Party and his strongest challenger currently in the field - Michele Bachmann. If he can take away her biggest issue, he removes a big impetus behind her support. Still, he hasn't been very vocal on the issue and in the face of leading from behind from the Obama White House, voters, particularly conservatives, may be in no mood for that sort of style.