Romney to sign Norquist's tax pledge

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) will sign an anti-tax pledge supported by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the conservative group said Thursday.

Romney will sign the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," drafted by conservative activist Grover Norquist, which has become somewhat of a litmus test for Republican candidates at all levels.

ATR announced that Romney would sign the pledge on its Twitter feed; Romney's campaign said earlier this week, though, that he would not attend a Nevada debate sponsored by the group and the Daily Caller, a conservative online publication.

Romney's decision to sign comes amid a litany of pledges and vows that conservatives have demanded the presidential contenders sign. Romney caught flak for refusing to sign an anti-abortion rights pledge sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony list, which his campaign said was overly broad. 

Romney also hasn't signed the new "Cut, Cap and Balance" pledge backed by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who's said a candidate's signature is a precondition to his endorsement.

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