Jim DeMint won’t back Jon Huntsman’s 2012 bid

Jim DeMint hasn't said who he'll endorse in the upcoming 2012 GOP primary. But he does know who he won't support: Jon Huntsman.

In an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley, the South Carolina senator and tea party leader trashed the former Utah governor for refusing to sign a pledge vowing to "cut, cap (and) balance" the federal budget.

"I won't support any candidate who does not support balancing the budget," DeMint said. "For me, he's out."

So far, just four 2012 hopefuls have signed DeMint's pledge, which is aimed at putting pressure on Congress not to raise the debt ceiling without specific cuts: Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum.

Asked about the pledge last week, Huntsman said wouldn't sign it. "Other than the Pledge of Allegiance, I don't do a lot of pledges," the former Utah governor told CNN last week.

DeMint has been cagey about who he plans to support in the 2012 primary. Four years ago, the tea party leader backed Mitt Romney--even going so far as to praise the health-care legislation Romney passed as governor of Massachusetts. But DeMint has backed off that support as Romney has defended the similarities between his bill and President Obama's health-care legislation.

(Photo of DeMint: Patrick Semansky/AP)