Mitt Romney urged caution for the general election, but indicated that has no problem letting the party sort out its divisions in primaries. | AP photo composite by POLITICO Romney warns tea parties

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is warning the tea party activists to not run third party candidates that would “divide” Republican voters and waste opportunities for the GOP.

Romney said in an interview with Newsmax posted on the conservative outlet’s website Monday night that he was pleased the conservative grassroots movement is “silent no longer.”


The likely 2012 GOP presidential candidate cautioned though that while he supports the idea of conservative challenges in GOP primaries, third party tea party-backed candidates in the general election could be disastrous.

“Divide and fail is the result,” Romney said of third party challenges. “That would hand over the country to [President] Barack Obama and [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid, and that would be very sad indeed.”

While Romney urged caution for the general election, the former governor indicated that has no problem letting the party sort out its divisions in primaries.

Asked about libertarian Rep. Ron Paul’s (R-Texas) place in the GOP, Romney said “we welcome his participation in our party,” adding “we’re a big-tent party.”

Romney also wouldn’t take sides in the Senate primary fight in Florida between Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.

“I like both of those individuals. I haven’t decided whether to endorse one or the other or neither, but I hope whoever wins the primary is able carry on very effectively in the general election,” Romney said. “We need more Republican senators in Washington very badly right now.”