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As champions of national security and foes of earmarks, Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas share much in common ideologically with fellow Republican John McCain .
But that doesn't mean he's their choice for the GOP presidential nomination.
DeMint backs former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney , and Cornyn, who clashed with McCain over immigration policy, is officially uncommitted. "He hasn't endorsed anyone for president . . . and doesn't have any intention to," a Cornyn aide said.
With McCain's victory in New Hampshire and his surge in the polls going into Tuesday's Michigan primary, the Arizona senator has moved from struggling hopeful to serious contender to become his party's standard-bearer. That, in turn, shines a spotlight on the policy differences between McCain and his GOP colleagues -- differences that could put Republican senators in the position of casting votes or making campaign promises at odds with their party's nominee.
DeMint and other conservatives in the House and Senate say they see a unified GOP election-year message as the best way for the party to regain control of Congress in the 2008 election. They'd prefer that unity to extend to the presidential nominee.
For instance, Rep. Joe L. Barton of Texas wants to see a 2008 version of the "Contract With America" -- a new list of political promises that would energize the party's conservative base. "We could agree on a number of things, like making tax cuts permanent and cutting spending," Barton said.
But McCain has refused to take the "no new taxes" pledge that has become standard for most GOP congressional candidates.
Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona and other allies of McCain argue that Republicans should cut their colleague some slack on contentious big-ticket issues like immigration and health care that will not be addressed until 2009.
"He's with his party on the big issues,'' said former Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi (1989-2007), referring to the war and extending GOP tax cuts, some of which McCain initially opposed.
Lott said he knew of two GOP senators up for re-election this year who secretly back McCain but aren't yet willing to say so publicly, underscoring divisions in the party. "They are keeping their mouth shut. They don't want to cause problems,'' Lott said.
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