CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Tea party activists are rethinking their role in the presidential race.

They wanted to be a force in the nation's biggest election, especially after their impact on congressional elections in 2010.

But things haven't gone as planned.

Many tea partyers don't like Mitt Romney's position on some important issues.

They've bounced from one candidate to another in hopes of finding a strong alternative to the former Massachusetts governor.

While some activists have settled on ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, tea party leaders say they're not really excited about any candidate.

Still, the presidential campaigns are aggressively courting tea party support. Romney has scored several big endorsements, and Gingrich has hired many tea party activists in New Hampshire and
South Carolina.