Conservative firebrand Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., says he understands that Rick Perry needs to get back to Texas to deal with raging wildfires, but he is “disappointed” the Texas governor would not first make a quick stop at the candidate forum DeMint is hosting today in South Carolina.

“We were hoping he would and we were willing to accommodate him in any way we could, but that is up to the governor,” DeMint told ABC News. “He has to make his own decision, but certainly we are disappointed.”

Perry spoke this morning at a town hall meeting in Myrtle Beach, S.C. DeMint said he offered to adjust the schedule to make it possible for Perry to appear at his forum and only delay his return to Texas by about an hour.

“People have been killed and he needs to be back in the state,” DeMint said. ”A lot of people are coming to hear the governor first hand today so they’ll be disappointed.”

The forum, sponsored by DeMint’s American Principles Project, would have been Perry’s first joint appearance with the other leading GOP candidates, including Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann.