Supporting conservative principles — the horror!

(CBS News) — Top Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod on Friday accused the Republican presidential contenders of “pledging allegiance to the Tea Party” at the Republican debate last night rather than the country, and said their lack of attention to the middle class was “stunning.”

Axelrod, in an appearance on CBS’ “The Early Show,” blasted the candidates’ performances in Thursday night’s Republican debate, and took particular aim on the eight Republicans’ unanimously expressed opposition to accepting tax increases as part of a deal to reduce the deficit.

“What was stunning was when they were asked, ‘when you look at the problem of the debt of this country, would you accept any more revenues, any higher taxes, even if it were ten parts cut and one part taxes?’ and they all raised their hand and said no, essentially pledging allegiance to the Tea Party, instead of resolving the problems of this country,” Axelrod said.

Axelrod also took aim at Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is expected to make clear his intention to run for president in a South Carolina speech on Saturday. Perry was not present at the Thursday debate — nor is he on the ballot for Saturday’s straw poll — but he is likely to emerge as an immediate frontrunner if and when he does get into the race.