Posted on 02/12/2012 7:36:53 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
Still riding high off of his three-win streak in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado last week, Rick Santorum blasted Republican rival Mitt Romney on Sunday, saying the GOP frontrunner was getting "desperate" by trying to paint Santorum as anything less than a true conservative.
"For him to suggest that I'm not the conservative in this race - you know, there's - you reach a point where desperate people do desperate things," Santorum told me on "This Week."
Santorum's comments were in response to statements Romney made earlier in the week that both Santorum and his fellow GOP rival Newt Gingrich are "Republicans who acted like Democrats."
"That's pretty funny for Mitt Romney saying I'm acting like a Democrat," Santorum said Sunday. "Another candidate has come up to challenge him, and this time he's having trouble finding out how to go after someone who is a solid conservative, who's got a great track record of attracting Independents and Democrats and winning states as a conservative."
Santorum said that despite his third place finish in the Maine caucus on Saturday, he expects to "do exceptionally well" in the Arizona and Michigan primaries the end of the month. The former Pennsylvania Senator his strong showing in the next two contests would make the GOP nomination a "two person race."
Santorum credited Romney's success thus far not to his policies or record, but to his fundraising prowess. Romney currently leads Santorum in the delegate count 105 delegates to Santorum's 71 delegates.
"He's been able to win in these early primary states by, you know, beating the tar out of his opponents by four- and five-to-one on television," Santorum said. "Well, of course, in the fall, he's not going to have the most money."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
As a Newt supporter, I think Newt should stay in...
UNTIL such time as heavy winner-take-all threatens to give Romeny MORE delegates than he would otherwise take with proportional primaries.
As long as Rick and Newt split conservative delegates, these reps at the convention will form a block, and prevent Romeny from taking any brokered convention. (presuming it would go by the 1st vote... otherwise, Newt OR Rick should, at the time it becomes apparent, get out to prevent that).
I think Rick is getting a little ahead of himself.
But he hasn't, and he won't. Santorum ripped Mittens apart at the Florida debate over RomneyCare and Newt stood there like a potted plant. His campaign has derailed since S.C., and as a result Shelly Adelson is yanking the checkbook. Very surprising how Newt has imploded. He had better hurry up, or he won't have any momentum left by Super Tuesday.
I must say Santorum offers up an item or two to frame as not conservative, which have been posted numerous times on FR.
Well, Santorum better get his own head checked, because he is on the record opposing the Constitutional conservative TEA Party patriots and candidates.
Santorum condemns the TEA Party movement; promises to vocally and publically oppose TEA Party patriots and candidates:
Santorum has only gotten this far because Romneys people have been backing him. Romney wants Newt out because he knows he can beat Mr. Rogers.
The fat lady hasn’t started singing yet and Santorum will be shown for the cheap opportunist he is. I will stick with Newt no matter what because I know he is the only one that can tear obama apart.
Sorry zippy, but Rickster supported Mitt last time around, wth would anyone want to support him now?
I’m sticking with Newt, and will not, will NOT vote for Mitt or Rick, period.
Listen, I am sick and tired of you Romneybots sneaking around the net and trying to tear down EVERYONE but your little Mormon butt boy Romney.
You are as transparent as glass.
Santorum is 1000000000000000000 times more conservative than Romney.
In fact, he is SO far right that the only arguement that could justifiably be made against him with a straight face is that he is too conservative.
I am not even a Santorum fan, but I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT.
Sorry charlie, but Rick S campaigned for Mitt Romney in the last presidential cycle. He’s about to get called out for that too, kinda takes his conservative creds away when he is trashing Romney now, for what he praised him for just a few years back.
But they’re such friendly, family-oriented gods.
When Santorum was given to chance to speak up for conservatism, he instinctively turned left, and spoke out for more and bigger government.
Romney is nothing but a communist. Santorum is slightly better, but no prize.
I WILL NOT VOTE FOR ROMNEY, Period.
And although I prefer Gingrich I will gladly cast my vote for Santorum if he is polling ahead of Gingrich when the race gets to Texas.
My goal is to send that SOB Romney back to planet Kolob or wherever he came from!
Amen and Preach On!
I too am a Gingrich fan, I personally think he may be the only person alive that might have a chance at really fixing our problems. I have volunteered for his Campaign and donated money... BUT, none of that matters if he can't beat that SOB Romney.
I desperately want Gingrich to win, but he just can't compete against the billion dollar Romney slime machine. He just has too much baggage.
I have never wanted to be wrong so much than to have to say what I just said, but the truth is the truth.
I respect you for supporting Gingrich and I don't know what state you live in and when you will get a chance to vote. But I would encourage you to vote strategically. If Gingrich is polling a distant 3rd when the race gets to your state and Santorum has a chance of beating Romney I ask that you consider not throwing your vote away. Especially if you live in a winner take all state.
Now if things are close and it's basically a 3 way tie, then sure! vote for Gingrich, I would do the same. But just don't waste your vote on someone who has no chance, it's basically the same as voting 3rd party then.
these threads are getting hilarious...
Look, if Santorum gives you chills against Romney, good for you. Yes, he is more conservative than Romney, but Florida is no measure for months of milk bars Rick threw out to Romney.
Rick & Bachman drove us crazy giving Romney passes for months so get a grip.
The FL debate was also the one with the singularly anti-Newt atmosphere, from Romney himself, to the CNN operator running it, to the audience, to the RINO buy of the 3000 seats auditorium where only 850 were allowed filled.
How cool would Rick have looked if Newt had not been shelled by Romney for days, so the kid barker gets a couple off, while Newt is off his game one bad evening?
He is insuring that Romney will be.
I feel the same way.
My opinion of Levin just dropped.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.