E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSSPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Rick Santorum put Newt Gingrich in his crosshairs for the second day in a row, calling the former House speaker "arrogant" for suggesting that he and Rick Perry should drop out of the race in order to let conservative voters coalesce around the Gingrich campaign.
At an event here this morning, the former Pennsylvania senator criticized Gingrich for saying that "it would be helpful" if Perry and Santorum, two rivals for the same slice of the conservative electorate, dropped out.
"The hubris, and I might even go so far as to say the arrogance, of Speaker Gingrich to suggest that I don't have the experience to run a campaign to win a national campaign, having won four elections in four heavily Democratic districts and states, having defeated two incumbent Democrats," Santorum said, using the same two buzzwords -- "hubris" and "arrogance" -- as he did around the state yesterday.
Related: Romney launches offensive in S.C.
Santorum noted that Gingrich's Congressional victories came in a heavily Republican district while Santorum won in areas of Pennsylvania that are traditionally less friendly to Republicans.
Santorum referred to more recent electoral victories on Tuesday, saying that he thought it ironic for Gingrich to be calling for his ouster when Santorum fared better than Gingrich based not only on votes but the amount of time and money spent campaigning in each state.
"New Hampshire... Let me see," Santorum said, facetiously racking his brain in front of reporters after an event in Lexington. "Oh yeah, I finished fourth, ahead of Congressman Gingrich who finished fifth even though he had the New Hampshire Union-Leader endorsement and spent millions of dollars in New Hampshire and I campaigned there for five days and spent twenty thousand dollars."
(Santorum actually finished fifth in New Hampshire with 49 fewer votes than Gingrich).
"So I guess that now that you've lost your first two races to me, that I'm the one that should get out of the race because I won the first two races," he said, referring to Gingrich.
First Thoughts: Newt-mentum returns?
The speaker's comments arose later Tuesday night after a business forum in Columbia, where Santorum talked about them for several minutes while waiting for his car outside the hotel where the forum was held.
"Newt's comments are..." he began, shaking his head. "...out of left field. Ugh. I would never ask someone to get out of the race. I mean, where do you come off telling someone that support me after you beat me twice and support me because I'm the better guy and I can win the race."
Santorum also took a shot at Mitt Romney yesterday after being asked to comment on Romney's revealing that his effective income tax rate is 15 percent.
While he did not overtly claim Romney was paying too little, Santorum did say he thought he was paying more than Romney's percentage.
"I don't know what my effective rate of tax is but I'm fairly confident it's a lot higher than 15 percent," he said.
Leave a Comment:
Republican party bosses probably figured that Mittens needed an ally. It is clear that they don't like Newt. Let's see if he lays off of Romney for a while. I want to see Mittens run against just one conservative candidate to see how powerful the teaparty is.
But when did they stop being best buds? I thought they were best buds, after Iowa.
Or is that, in the vernacular of the day, BFFs?
Well, anyway ... lily-livered, backstabbing opportunists, more like.
In the vernacular of any day. Backstabbing is eternal.
Does any of this really matter in the end? There's so much hot air blowing around in South Carolina the National Weather Service might have to issue hurricane warnings.
Please wake me when it's over.
Start packing Santorum...Nobody wants a sanctimonious hypocrite for President, ready to send the military to Iran. Especially someone like you, that probably runs for cover during the 4th of July fireworks. You are pathetic. Newt and Mitt will follow later, when their bubbles burst in due time.
The problem is we are getting non-Military in the government and has no clue on how the miltary works. 1) Clinton never joined the miltary or did Obama and both has done nothing to this country to improve the economy. Bush looked good for economy is because of SR. Bush. Later during last part of Jr. term economy starts to drop. That is because of Clinton. So, you will see a better life after Obama is out of office Due to Bush jr. administration. It takes about 8 yrs to see the difference in the economy. Obama has a change to put America out of Business. That is all Dem idea is to shut down and change the constitution. Get rid of military so the UN can step in. That is Obama change.
No money, no organization and by next week, no campaign for President. It was an accident of fate that he was the last Anti-Romney standing in Iowa, and now his fate is to sink into the single digits by Saturday...
I do believe you are right, dangerfield. That will leave three (I am assuming Perry will go back to Texas). Will things heat up, or will it all peter out, and the coronation will begin?
LOL!
Newts walking around with a big old bulls-eye on hit butt!
It's all about them. That's what I have noticed, while watching the Republican primary unfold. Even while Hillary and Obama duked it out in 2008, they mostly talked about the voters' lives, about trying to get healthcare for everybody, about bringing troops home from Iraq. Oh, Obama had his "you're likeable enough, Hillary" moment , and Hillary had her "the skies will open up and birds will sing for Barack," or whatever she said, but that was pretty much IT! These Republicans, on the other hand, are either talking about how great they are, or they are running each other down, but they aren't talking about the country! It's like 'Dancing with the Stars' out there without the spankles.
Amy, that is precisely why this country needs to wake up and keep the economy, tax cuts, our private lives, voting rights and foreign policy out of the hands of the Republican Party. They screw up everything they touch.
The only thing that makes them happy is when they are dictating to all of us about how we shoud live our lives and who we should hate. And most of the time who they hate are our fellow Americans.
Enough! Please America, vote for your fellow working Americans, not for these out of touch selfish arrogant jerks. Who have zero business dictating to us about the future. They don't care about the future. They have all the money they will ever need. Voter suppression means nothing to them. Fighting wars means nothing to them. Working wages means nothing to them.
What means something to them is tax cuts for the rich and religion.
They need to get lost. We can't afford their nastiness and dictorial ways any longer.
Amy--please don't make me picture any of these guys in "Dancing with the Stars" costumes. That is too scary!
You are right, though---it is all about themselves, all the time. They all know it would be better for their cause to have only 1 conservative candidate yet none will bow out to make that happen.
Steeler Fan
oops, I think "spangles" was the word I was looking for :)
Aren't those costumes a hoot?
Now all of a sudden you want to say something nice about Hillary, when she poses no threat to Obama for the nomination. Four years ago you ObaMANIACS called her every name in the book.
Sorry it's too late. I urge all Hillary Democrats from the 2008 cycle, to support Mitt Romney in this election.
Obama's Presidency has been an absolute disaster. We are much worse off economically than we were four years ago, and it's going to get worse if we leave this clown in office.
Anybody who supports Obama in this election is a freeloader, looking for a free ride.
DEMOCRATS FOR ROMNEY 2012
Will you look at that SF - who said Stanley doesn't hold grudges? lmao!
Bitter party of one - your table is now ready!
I mostly agree with you, Pat Boston MA, except that I think religion is nothing more for them than a political tool to get Evangelical votes.
Gingrich is so transparently playing the religion card it's insulting to anyone who really has a religion.
[Sorry it's too late. I urge all Hillary Democrats from the 2008 cycle, to support Mitt Romney in this election.]
So they can experience defeat again !!
I never really caught that show before last season, when Hines Ward was on but now I'm hooked! I love the costumes.
Funny thing about Hillary Clinton is----I'll bet a lot of us would support her in 2016 if she chooses to run. It wasn't that I didn't think Hillary was qualified for me---it was choosing between 2 well-qualified candidates. I have never regretted the choice that I made and I think Hillary has been a wonderful Secretary of State.
I am a stock trader and would never vote for Willard or Paul. We need bigger government and more regulations to control the wall street criminals who trade on insider information, and the huge money which backs computer controlled trading that manipulates the market.
You have 3 "fellows" still playing. Paul will accept that he will not be able to do it the "establishment way" and run as an independent.
One guy, Romney, has this massive problem no showing his money at every turn--but he won't show the income tax returns. Something bad to hide.
The other guy, Gingrich, devotes 90% of his time reminding us that Romney is a corporate raider and could give 2 sheets about the average American---but Gingrich has had 3 wives and 3 religions.
The Frothy mix guy, Santorium doesn't count. He looks just like the guy that violated my Golden Retriever at Doggie Day care.
Perry has to decide whether he'll take an ambassadorship to Iraq during President Obama's next 4 years--or head back to Texas in shame. The folks of Texas had no idea that the guy was "challenged."
Go ahead and talk down on Rep. But we all know the Dem like to do is to spend money to leave nothing to us. Obamacare will cost tax payers a lot money to run it. Down sizing the military will mean higher unemployment rate. Just like Clinton did when they closed bases down to jack up unemployment. And now Obama want to lay off 120,000 employees to cut cost on federal spending. Again the unemployment goes up again. What they need to to restructure federal pay to civilian sector. That will save alot of tax payers money. Government has the highest employment in any other business.
Tim, do you realize that during the Reagan/Bush 41 years that military base were being closed and the number of Navy ships cut. I was working at a naval shipyard during that time and I personally worked on submarines that were having their reactors cut out and shipped to Hanford Nuclear facility for burial. I remember bases in San Francisco, Long Beach California, Philadelphia Naval base in Penn. and Charleston, SC closed. BTW isn't it the Republicans that want to cut the size of government?
Very good observations Amy B. It is good to see well thought out, and clever posts presented by Feisty. It is interesting to note that "Sanitarium Santorum," and "Nutty Newt are both intolerant of others. Both of these GOP Clowns are not Presidential at all! These Two Tea Beggers have NO intent on protecting all citizens under the US Constitution. These Two very "Socially Sadistic" GOP Clowns would attend the same KKK meetings. That is if they were not still campaigning against each other. The continued "Mental Madness" of these Two Tea Beggers is just another example of their intolerance for some of our citizens over others. Research their past and present statements and poltical voting positions for yourself America. That is fact!
In Progressive=Forward 11 - We Trust! ;o)
"Rick Santorum put Newt Gingrich in his crosshairs for the second day in a row, calling the former House speaker "arrogant"
==============
This introduction never gets old - "Pot, I'd like you to meet Kettle".
Yes, Gingrich is arrogant (and preachy). I don't think that Gingrich realizes that many of the people who support Perry and/or Santorum would rather vote for Romney than Gingrich.
The reason that Perry (who raised an incredible amount of money when he announced his bid which should mean something) and Santorum are still in the race is that many people can't stand Gingrich and even though they have doubts about Romney, would rather vote for Romney than Gingrich. Gingrich would never win an election and nominating someone just to see a debate would be stupid. A conceited debater doesn't necessarily make a good leader.
Sharks eating sharks; this is getting good...Newt should tell Santorum to stop whining and man up
Such egos. The pot calls the kettle black.
The only ones who would likely vote for either Santorum or Perry are the evangelical extremists with a few going to Gingrich. Most of the non-evangelical extremists will go for Gingrich or Paul and the moderates and sane Republicans will go for Romney.
You are entitled to your opinion, but I forgot "evangelicals" aren't entitled to an opinion, unless it is a bad one. You are the extremist!
Santorum thinks he can be VP by helping Romney. No dice, Rick.
Keep the Pope and his lackey Santorum out of government. No money for catholic schools and their rapist pedophile priests. The only reason these priests are against abortion, is so that they can have more little boys to rape.
"Rick Santorum lost New Hampshire by 49 votes." You call this reporting. I want a job. Look at the OFFICIAL FINAL tally and Rick is RIGHT. This is why America doesn't respect main stream media! Really. If I put that little effort into my job, I wouldn't have one. Do your homeworkl
Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Ron Paul need to see the writing on the wall
Mitt Romney IS going to be the Republican Pres nominee
So step aside and get outta the race Losers
Bring back Herman (9Kampf) Cain, the dress slitherer. The repuke that lies the most usually wins. Lyin Willard is only second to Cain.
we need a business person in the white house that knows how to run a business with military experience. Obama has no on each catagory. Cain should stayed in and finish the race. Who cares he has extra tail to chase. He knows how to restore business around and bigger profit. No sorry Lawyer can ever do that Or even a Dictator like Obama. He tells you what you want to hear then do the opposite.