I think Santorum is a panderer. I think he would sell his soul to the illegals like Bush has if he thinks it would buy him votes. I've lost a great deal of respect for Santorum over the Snarlin Arlin thing.
Are you sure you're not confusing Santorum with someone else.
Besides from his support of Spector in 2004, I can't think of one other thing Santorum has done to earn a conservative's wrath.
Besides, I strongly suspect it was Bush/Rove who "convinced" Santorum to support Spector over Toomey, who despite his conservative rhetoric and credentials, was a relative unknown newcomer to state and national politics.
Rove and Santorum obviously made the safe move by supporting Spector, who despite his frequent foibles continues to vote with the GOP on most critical issues.
If Toomey had defeated Spector in the Republican primary, I feel quite certain the Democrat (was it Joe Hoeffle?) would have carried Pennsylvania in the general election, and today we would be facing a US Senate with 54 Repubs and 46 Dems instead of 55 to 45.
Remember, Pennsylvania's voter registration remains a double digit Dem voter advantage due to Philly and Pittsburgh.
Believe, I hate Spector probably more than yourself, but sometimes you have to follow the party line.
That said, can you name me another time where a junior US Senator, either Dem or Repub, threw his support behind the senior Senator's opponent of the same party in a primary?