Romney calls for immediate removal of Confederate flag

WASHINGTON — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney called for the immediate removal of the Confederate battle flag from outside the South Carolina Statehouse, even as hundreds of protesters marched in Columbia, demanding that the banner come down.

Many see the Confederate flag as "a symbol of racial hatred," the GOP's 2012 nominee tweeted Saturday. "Remove it now to honor #Charleston victims."

Romney joins President Barack Obama and civil rights leaders in calling for the flag to come down as the nation grapples with Wednesday' nights murders.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday his position is clear: "In Florida we acted, moving the flag from the state grounds to a museum where it belonged," he said in a statement provided to The Associated Press, referring to his 2001 order to remove the Confederate battle flag from atop the historic Old Capitol building.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, said he's open to revisiting the decision to use the flag, but it "is a part of who we are."

Former technology executive Carly Fiorina said Saturday she agrees the flag is a "symbol of racial hatred" yet declined to call for its removal.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said the last thing the people of South Carolina need is "people from outside of the state coming in and dictating how they should resolve it."

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement: I fully expect the leaders of South Carolina to debate this, but the conversation should wait until after the families have had a chance to bury and mourn their loved ones."