Presidential candidates with their eyes on 2016 have begun to share their stances on the Confederate flag as the state of South Carolina wrestles with the divisive symbol.  Statements from White House hopefuls have been flowing in since nine black people were killed by a white shooter at a historic church in Charleston Wednesday. Some candidates were seemingly thrust into the spotlight Saturday after 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's defiant statement on the subject, which was later retweeted and praised by President Barack Obama.  Take down the #ConfederateFlag at the SC Capitol. To many, it is a symbol of racial hatred. Remove it now to honor #Charleston victims.  — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) June 20, 2015  — President Obama (@POTUS) June 21, 2015  Meanwhile, thousands marched on South Carolina's Statehouse demanding the removal of the Confederate flag from capitol grounds Saturday evening. Supporters say it as a reminder of the state's cultural heritage and state rights and opponents call it an outdated symbol of slavery and segregation.  Here are what 2016 candidates—and suspected contenders— have said so far about the Confederate flag.  For Bush, "the right thing" would be to remove the flag. Bush had the flag discreetly removed from Florida's state capitol in 2001.  My perspective on the Confederate flag issue: http://t.co/4HG9CPuz92 pic.twitter.com/As7iKYE78w  — Jeb Bush (@JebBush) June 20, 2015  Graham, said he'd be OK with revisiting the issue of flying the flag on the grounds of the state capitol, but added that the current setup, which includes the flag raised above a Confederate war memorial next to an African-American memorial "works" in South Carolina.  "It's time for people in South Carolina to revisit that decision would be fine with me, but this is part of who we are," Graham told CNN Friday. "The problems we have in South Carolina is not because of a movie or symbols, it's because of what's in people's hearts."  He continued: "I think the answer is that we move forward in a balanced way. That we make sure the compromise in South Carolina works here...It works here, that's what the state house agreed to do."  The former Hewlett-Packard executive said she believes the flag is a symbol of racism, but would not go as far to call for its removal on her own.  "I think it's clearly a symbol that is very offensive to many, but my personal opinion is not what's relevant here," she said at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority" conference in D.C, according to National Journal. "What's relevant here is what the people of South Carolina choose to do next."  The Florida lawmaker took a similar stance as Fiorina. He denounced Wednesday's killings as an act of "racial hatred," but also said he wouldn't tell South Carolina what to do.  "This is an issue that they should debate and work through and not have a bunch of outsiders going in and telling them what to do," he said, according to The Washington Post.  He also said he supports Bush's earlier decision to bring the flag down at Florida's state capitol, but he hasn't always taken that stance. Rubio, along with other state lawmakers, co-sponsored a bill in 2001 that would allow the flag to continue to fly in public spaces. The bill was a reaction to Bush's decision to take down the flag.  At the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Perry said the decision should be up to the state of South Carolina.  But, the man who called the Charleston shooting an "accident" on xxxx, later walking back the statement noting that he meant to say "incident," took a stronger stance when talking to RealClearPolitics Saturday.  “I think a governor’s job should be one to bring people together, not to divide them, and I think the Confederate battle flag is clearly one of those that divides people,” Perry said.  Perry supported a Texas Motor Vehicles Board decision to reject a request to put the Confederate flag on specialty license plates in 2009. The Supreme Court declared the state could indeed block the license plates earlier this week, according to the Texas Tribune.  Kasich, who is expected to run, said in a statement Saturday: "This is up to the people of South Carolina to decide, but if I were a citizen of South Carolina I'd be for taking it down."  While initially ignoring reporters' questions about the flag, Walker joined the wave of condemnations on Friday after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said it would come down. "I am glad @nikkihaley is calling for the Confederate flag to come down. I support her decision," said Walker, who earlier said wouldn't talk about the flag until the victims of the shooting in Charleston were buried.  I am glad @nikkihaley is calling for the Confederate flag to come down. I support her decision - SKW  — Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) June 22, 2015  Some presidential hopefuls, however, have steered clear of the debate.  Spokesmen for most of the other Republican presidential contenders also either ignored such questions or formally declined to comment. They include Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, businessman Donald Trump and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not made a statement in recent days, but the Democrat has called for the flag's removal in the past. At the Conference of Mayors in San Francisco this week, she spoke solemnly about the Charleston shooting and America's history of racism and gun reform.  "America’s long struggle with race is far from finished," she said.  Read Hillary's remarks on the need to confront systemic racism in America & move forward together: http://t.co/U8WFW0eemG  — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 20, 2015  Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
The 2016 presidential candidates weigh in on the Confederate flag debate that has swept the nation since the Charleston shooting.