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Subscribe to RSSRepublican voters in Illinois are casting their ballots Tuesday in the state's presidential primary. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
EAST PEORIA, IL -- Rick Santorum began the Monday before the Illinois primary addressing Mitt Romney's claims that he is "an economic lightweight." By the day's end, it was the former Pennsylvania senator's own words that had him on the defensive.
Making four stops in the Land of Lincoln, Santorum suggested at a rally in Moline that the nation's unemployment rate "doesn't matter to me." The point, he later explained, was that his campaign is based on more fundamental issues than the current jobless numbers and that Republicans do not believe it is the government's role to create employment, only to create an atmosphere for job growth.
But it took little time for his chief rival for the GOP nomination to pounce on the comments. Stumping in Peoria less than two hours later, Romney used Santorum's line to further his case that he the only candidate capable of handling the economy.
"One of the people who is running also for the Republican nomination today said that he doesn’t care about the unemployment rate, that does bother me. I do care about the unemployment rate," said Romney.
Santorum's remarks came on the heels of a different eyebrow-raising incident in a Louisiana prayer service on Sunday night. As Santorum sat off to the side in Baton Rouge church, pastor Dennis Terry, who introduced the Republican hopeful, delivered some fiery rhetoric about religious tolerance. "I don’t care what the liberals say, I don’t care what the naysayers say, this nation was founded as a Christian nation," Terry said, adding, "There’s only one God. There’s only one God. And his name is Jesus."
When pressed by reporters on Monday about the comments, Santorum said he did not hold the pastor's views. "I believe in freedom of religion and all religions are welcome and should be. I think I've made that pretty clear throughout my campaign."
The distractions came less than 24 hours before Illinois voters go to the polls to decide how their 54 delegates will be allocated. The state is largely expected to favor Romney, but a strong showing from Santorum could further cement his place as the only candidate able to mount a challenge to the former Massachusetts governor's front-runner status.
With more than 15 media appearances on Monday in addition to the four campaign rallies, the Santorum campaign was hoping to leave Illinois on high note. As Romney delivered an economic address at the University of Chicago, Santorum touted his blue collar candidacy in Dixon, the hometown of GOP hero Ronald Reagan.
"We need someone who can talk and strike blows for big things like Reagan did for freedom, for America," he said while standing in front of bronze statue of Reagan on a horse. "Let’s just be brutally honest about it. There’s one candidate in this race who could never make this race about freedom because he simply abandoned freedom when he was governor of Massachusetts and he abandoned it when he promoted Obamacare in 2009.”
Throughout the day he called out Romney over his ties to Wall Street and a job creation record that, Santorum said, was one of the worst in the country while Romney led the Bay State.
But during his final rally outside a pizza shop in East Peoria, Santorum seemed to acknowledge the toll his off-the-cuff style has taken on him. "When you got out there and you don’t talk from a teleprompter, and you’re not, you know, reading notes that someone else gave you, occasionally you say something things, you wish you had a, you know, a do-over," he said.
"But you know what, I think it’s important that you get a sense of how real the candidate is, mistakes and all.”
NBC's Jamie Novogrod contributed to this report.
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Newt for President!
Santorum does not care about unemployment in the USA. What that means is the 99% of us who are not rich should not even think about voting for him. We all know people who are looking for work or for a better job. If you are not rich, vote Democratic, vote Obama.
can the rich vote for them too?
So you can siphen a hand out from me....I gues I'm rich at 40k a year....Loser...
"Republicans do not believe it is the government's role to create employment"
Talk about flip-flop. That's all the Repubs did was scream about Obama and where are the jobs. If the Repubs get back in power just turn out the lights and lock the door.
Santorum/Romney keep talking!!!! Keep talking!!!! They alone are re-electing President Obama every time they open their mouth!
The only thing that the American people should have on their minds now is simply, "How do we get Barry Soetoro, the Socialist food stamp president, out of office in November". It is imperative that this be our collective main concern. I, personally, have had just about all of the "transformation of America" that I can take!!
mr. harley: We can get Obama out of office in November by presenting a competent candidate who doesn't step on their own tongue at every opportunity and actually presents logical, reasoned courses of action to fix this country instead of fixating on the shortcomings, real or perceived, of their opponent and other non-issues.
Wait... We don't have one of those? Damn...
Rick Santorum has offered some of the best comedy in this campaign. I often wonder how he can keep a straight face when he spews some of his one liners. Pastor dennis Terry had better get his facts sstraight. This country was NOT founded as a christian nation. The declaration of independence and the constitution made that very clear and Thomas Jefferson was an athiest.
Hahaha...they will all of them burn for things they say off the cuff. These candidates are just plain crap.
With more than 15 media appearances on Monday in addition to the four campaign rallies, the Santorum campaign was hoping to leave Illinois on high note.
Outside a pizza shop in East Peoria: "Occasionally you say something things, you wish you had a, you know, a do-over," he said.
Illinois: no "do-overs", Rick. Fortunately for America.
Cant
have Republicans controlling all Branches of Government like they did the
previous 8 years and how they created the Deficit like they did taking record
surpluses to record deficits. We lost jobs at the rate of 750,000 jobs a month
under republicans and the debt skyrocketed from in the black to Deep into the
red. The first four months of Obama president we lost 750,000 a month that was
left over from the BUSH flawed economy. We finally are adding jobs and not fast
enough but the republicanst who Bought the elections with a steady supply of
Koch BS ads can not we refuse will not come again we are going to run the truth
ads about the republicans killing medicare and medicaid and ss and wanting to
never ever make the rich pay there fair share no mater what or cut defense
spending and they want to stay in wars forever and never end them ever....
the only republican candidate that has a chance against obama is ron paul and the hardcore conservatives news outlets are blacking him out think about it why would republicans not want ron paul to get elected is it because half of congress would be brought up on charges for not voting in accordance with thier constituents which is treason as stated in the constitution or is it because hes crazy even though hes held the same ideas since the 80s and has gotten relected into congress for the past 20 years
Ricky InSanitarium sure is full of "doom 'n gloom", isn't he? He's pathetic!
Now, he's also got his "I-can't-find-my-burka" wife out there on talk shows, tryin' to save his "war on women's rights" movement!
This religious nut's time is nearly up, for sure!
BTW: Obama/Biden win in 2012! No doubt!!
You all Hate Santorum because you hate the thought that there is a God, and yes, only one God, The God of the Jews, His son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit...You may laugh, and you may scoff, but it doesn't change the truth.....Santorum doesn't care if people pray to Gods that don't exsist, and that Louisianna Pastor doesn't either, The pastor is just stating the facts....You haters draw paranoid conclusions that we want to limit peoples freedom....never said, and not true....You haters hate the truth because it exposes your sin, and arrogance.....MSNBC creating controversy that didn't exsist until they said it does....and you Democrats (Liberals, and athiests).....buy right into it...keep on hating....you are only imprisoning yourselves....
That's not why we hate him. We hate him because he's crazy, just like you.
Rick insane in the membrane threw up in his own mouth because he heard himself speak.
Greg 3253201:
I know this may make your head explode, so sit down and breathe deeply. I am a Democrat and a Christian. We're not all bound for hell, despite what your crazy pastor tells you. And, I do not hate Rick Santorum, I just cannot imagine, even for the briefest period, that he is in any way qualified to be President of the US. That is a job that requires deep thought and confidence. It requires a man willing to seek out various points of view and hold competing thoughts in his head at the same time. It requires a person with humanity and respect for others whose beliefs are not exactly, precisely what his own are. All these requirements certainly disqualify Mr. Santorum. He is an intolerant man. His requirement for service in the government and for his advisers will simply be that they must all believe as he does.
I know men like him. In the end, their "faith" is very shaky. They make these big public displays of religion so others will see them. They believe somehow that "if I only do enough in public, God will be happy with me". Jesus talked about men like this - in his day they were called Pharisees - and said their loud praying in public and displays of "faith" were shallow and, the reward they have from deceiving others will be their only reward.
Greg
I see a lot hate in your comment. That's typical of a right wing hard core "pretending to be Christian" person. You believe in freedom if it suits you. Those you disagree with you call ignorant and evil. I suggest you look in the mirror if you want to see hate.
God has NOTHING to do with this!
Obama people its not November. Get a grip ... right now we have to make certain that we get the best of the REPUBLICANS SO if Obama loses we arent dont have Moon Boy who is a crook, and will employ your kids as Prostitutes or Sactamonious that will put you in a chastity belt.
Geez ... and Obama isnt that good, Hillary would have been much better and the nation would be in better shape if she was President.
But there are dumb Democrats voting for Santorum to try to get Obama to win ... but guess what Sactamonious might win and you will be screwed.
but guess what Sactamonious might win and you will be screwed.
Sure -- he might win --- just like I might win PowerBall this week.
When a Republican was in office John Boehner and Mitch
McConnell voted without hesitation to pass raising the Debt ceiling even
stating that they hope this passed unanimously.
Years the Republicans voted to raise the Debt Ceiling Bush signed into law
2002 350 Billion in tax cut to big business and 450 Billion increase
2003 450 Billion in tax cuts to Big Business and 900 Billion increase
2004 600 Billion in tax Cuts to Big business and 800 Billion Increase
2006 670 Billion in Tax cuts to Bug Business and 781 Billion Increase
2007 700 Billion tax cuts for Big Business and 850 Billion Increase
2008 450 Billion tax Cuts to Big Business and
Total 3.2 Trillion to Big Business $4 Trillion Debt Ceilng
increases under Bush
Total 7.2 Trillion in the Red for the next president coming
in 2009.
Also fought wars off the books for entire 8 years Bush was
in office but still have to pay for it and those cost another 4.1 trillion which averaged out to 200 billion a year
for each war.
Republicans voted to raise the Debt Ceiling every time it
was brought up while a republican was in office and I goggle there response
then it was Boehner and McConnell who said “there should not be any politics
come into play when it comes to a increase in our national debt we need to pass
this to continue to operate”. Also Mike
Pence of Indiana in 2002 said it as a necessity to raise the National debt.
Bush a republican was in office then but now the same Mike Pence now says he
will not vote to raise the Debt ceiling without cuts to programs in healthcare
and Medicare and all of which no cuts for defense or ending the Wars. Now
Republicans and Tea Party think it’s a Great idea to play politics while a
Democrat is in office.
Santorum supports freedom for all Americans ... provided its on his approved list of freedoms.
The republicans can't seem to separate capitalism and democracy. They lost the knowledge that the founding of America was based on freedom and liberty not money. They have corrupted what this country stands for by selling that freedom and liberty to the highest bidder.
Yes freedom and liberty. They are more than some words you learned in school. They are real and not for sale. Our forefather fought and died for our freedom and liberty. The republicans have forgotten this in their effort to make corporate America the defacto ruler of this great land.
They should bow their heads in shame ....
Religion and religious fanatics like Santorum do not belong into politics, period ! Fanatics like him should move out the united states into countries like saoudi arabia. They do not belong in a democracy ! If you mix religion with politics than you can say goodbye to your freedoms, it is that simple.
And the dem control congress of 2007-2011 added 5 trillion dollars to debt.
________________________________________________________________
The George Bush tax cuts and wars caused the debt.
So it will never be reduced until you stop the wars and end the Bush tax cuts.
Putting Democrats in congress per se, doesn't change that - - it's the polices you have to change.
Why do GOP lackeys continue to pretend not to understand that?
these guys dont even know what they are saying, not only not believing it. Oh , you obama l lovers. Go sit on the unemployment line while you pay 5 bucks a gallon to get there.
The fact Ricky is still in the race shows how fractured, how in chaos the GOP is. My Repub friends and family can not believe he is still in the race...they would NEVER vote for him....even against President Obama.
BTW, how come none of Ricky or Mitts children are in the military....they want to go to war with Iran.....yet they don't want their children in harms ways. And don't give me "it is against Mormon beliefs"....that is just an excuse...and a pitiful one at that. If fighting is against Mormon beliefs...than Mitt better be against ALL war.
I didn't think anyone could be a worse presidential candidate that Michelle Bachmann. Calling her crazy is an insult to crazy people. She lies, has no ideas and is a religious fanatic. But then along comes Rick Santorum and he manages to top even her. This clown doesn't belong in an elected office, he belongs in a mental institution. Do we have anyone who cannot figure out why the people in PA booted him out of office by more than a 2 to 1 margin?
Santorum should strictly limit his campaigning to only States "51 through 57" !!!!!
Headlines should read "VOTERS ARE INSANE". Voting for the same DO-NOTHING OLD policies that will NOT CHANGE the GOVERNMENTS CULTURE and ATTITUDES. They will never be outside the BOX. FOR THE PEOPLE NOT THE CORPORATIONS (SO-CALLED PEOPLE).
More of the FASCIST REGIME !!!
So Saint Sanatorium doesn't give a fig about the people who would pay his salary only how far he can go with his catholic beliefs? Couple of things come to mind, 1.what is the big deal over Romney and his faith when we have a believer in the church that hides pedophile priests and 2. doesn't, by his own words give a damn about the economy and Human Rights in his own nation, a nation he thinks he is qualified to "lead"?
You Republinuts had better shut him up or your "party" will not survive - perhaps you all ought to consider your founder's Abe Lincoln's belief's. Right now you are the laughingstock of the nation and providing a living for the Comedy Channel pundits.
"I believe in freedom of religion and all religions are welcome and should be. I think I've made that pretty clear throughout my campaign."
If he really believes in Freedom of Religion he should stop trying to shove his religious views down everyone elses throat (especially women).
Here is a great article about the trouble any Republican nominee will have in November:
When they say these things it isn't because they were confused or misinformed its because the sub conscience brought them out because that's what you believe