Santorum’s real problem is that like many social conservatives. He doesn’t want a smaller, less intrusive government, he just wants one that will advocate on behalf of the things he wants.
What are your specifics on that? Only thing I remember not agreeing with him on as far as government intervention was him wanting to give a special tax credit to the manufacturing sector. That was hokey.
Like many social conservatives I believe he'd faithfully enforce the rights enshrined in our founding documents by doing everything he could to overturn Roe vs. Wade and allow school prayer. And, although I favored Newt overall, Santorum had a better record on opposing all the facets of Obamacare.