Perry backs Ohio Gov. Kasich, slams Romney

Rick Perry jumped to take sides in Ohio's hotly contested union battle on Tuesday, criticizing on rival Mitt Romney's attempt to side-step the issue.

Perry backed Ohio's Republican Gov. John Kasich's bill to limit collective bargaining rights by government union workers, tweeting: "Ohio Gov John Kasich is right to protect and create jobs. Stand with him to fight union excesses. Help make Ohio more competitive!!"

Perry's presidential campaign, likely taking advantage of the criticism Romney received from conservatives on the topic earlier in the day, also sent out a press release slamming Romney for demonstrating "finger-in-the-wind politics" during his visit to Ohio on Tuesday.

"Americans are tired of politicians who change their beliefs to match public opinion polls," Perry Communications Director Ray Sullivan said in a statement. "Mitt Romney needs to realize that when you try to stand on both sides of an issue, you stand for nothing."

Romney thanked Ohio Republican Party volunteers at an Ohio phone bank earlier in the day but side-stepped questions about some of the issues on the upcoming Ohio ballot, including a referendum to overturn Kasich’s bill to limit collective bargaining rights by government union workers.

"I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues," Romney said, according to CNN. “I am not terribly familiar with the two ballot initiatives. But I am certainly supportive of the Republican Party's efforts here."

Conservatives and the Ohio Democratic Party fired back on Romney for not taking a stronger stand.

---