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Subscribe to RSSThe Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks about Rick Santorum's comments to a crowd of supporters, in which he said President Barack Obama is better than Mitt Romney.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Rick Santorum today suggested it would be better to stick with President Obama over a candidate that might be "the Etch A Sketch candidate of the future” -- a shot at chief rival Mitt Romney.
"You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who’s just going to be a little different than the person in there," said Santorum. "If you’re going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk with what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate of the future.”
For the second day in a row, the former Pennsylvania senator brought an Etch A Sketch on the trail as a prop to remind voters of Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom's response to a question about whether Santorum is pushing Romney too far right to win over moderate voters in a general election. "Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes," Fehrnstrom said Wednesday on CNN. "It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again."
The comment gave plenty of ammunition to Santorum and Newt Gingrich, both of whom have made the well-known children's toy a staple of their stump speeches.
Speaking at the USAA headquarters here, Santorum showed optimism about his chances in the delegate rich state of Texas. He told the crowd the primary would not be over by the time the Lone Star State votes on May 29.
"It's the second-biggest delegate prize, and you're going to have an important role. This race will not be over when Texas is coming around," he said.
Santorum's viability hinges on picking up a majority of the 155 delegates that will be up for grabs here. When asked about his path to the nomination, Texas plays a key role.
Still, the GOP hopeful avoided calling on Newt Gingrich to leave the race, though senior campaign advisers have said the former House speaker remaining in the race is cutting into their vote totals and that they would like to receive the former House speaker's support.
Santorum said his campaign has been in contact with both the Gingrich and Romney campaigns, though he declined to give specifics of the conversations.
"I’m worried about being a candidate. I’m not worried about anything else right now,” Santorum told reporters who asked about the nature of the conversations.
Accompanying Santorum on the trail today was billionaire-backer Foster Freiss, who is a chief contributor to the pro-Santorum Super PAC Red, White and Blue Fund. They will attend a fundraiser in Dallas on Thursday afternoon.
*** UPDATE *** The Romney camp responds with this statement from the former Massachusetts governor: “I am in this race to defeat Barack Obama and restore America’s promise. I was disappointed to hear that Rick Santorum would rather have Barack Obama as president than a Republican. This election is more important than any one person. It is about the future of America. Any of the Republicans running would be better than President Obama and his record of failure.”
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RickS is doing this 2 make the TP/KKK look less ignorant and himself less bigoted.
Willard Romney just because you call yourself a Republican It doesn't necessarily make it so.
And, when Romney losses to Obama, he will blame his loss on Santorum and Gingrich.
Funny how it all works out, eh?
well now..what if Romney wins...will Obama go back to being a community organizer?
He won't need to. He will make millions on speeches alone. He won't need to work, he never really did before.
So nothing will change for him.
Probably...but on a Clinton-like scale...maybe a global community organizer.
Of course, the chances of him losing, at this point, are slim and none...the campaign hasn't even really begun...just some minor sparing going on. Democrats have been having too much fun sitting on the sidelines and watching the self-destruction of the Republican Party.
Expect Romney to run into financial problems...and the big money go to the Congressional races.
I was going to joke that you were on crack, or "stoned," but then you went and demonstrated that you are on crack so it isn't funny anymore. Get some help man.
Unless you are a Texas Oil Man or a Rich Casino Owner, wealthy people are not prone to throw money away. Also, the Presidency is merely a "pork distribution center" for Republicans...and they know that a) there is no more pork to give; and b) it is just as effective to their political philosophy to control Congress as it is to control the White House.
Rick, try to keep your mouth closed and go away. You are behaving like an idiot.
He scares the hell out of me...he and Ron Paul...
@Seattle Indie - just keep repeating this is a non-issue and maybe someone will agree with you. You've convinced yourself at least. If this doesn't just die because of the 24 hour attention span of the Sheeple, it is a telling point for the discord that is the GOP. They don't even know what THEY stand for today, other than supporting their cronyism with Big Business, Big Banks and Wall Street. This Etch-a-Sketch comment is the point that Romney is a chameleon that will change his colors to fit any audience. Sells himself like a Sham Wow. Problem is we need a leader.
GOOOOO OBAMA! Romney the idiot said Obama's failures?? He has done exactly what he said he would do and for ONCE we have a president who is standing up to Congress and thier inside trading and back flips off the american people. The republicans are afraid they wont be able to rape this country any further if Obama is re-elected. During this presidency he has gotten closer to fixing Bush and his cabinits f__— up's and if we stay the coarse bring many more who have spent thier collective years in seats to abuse and hurt the United states of America, it's people and it's honor.
"He has done exactly what he said he would do."
Really? He closed GITMO? I missed that.
He cut the deficit? I missed that.
He kept unemployment below 8%? I missed that.
We have military tribunals for terror suspects? I missed that.
He ended the Bush administration practice of rendition of terror suspects? I missed that.
He said: "The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation." Then he attacked Libya!
President Obama pledged to move forward with the Bush-era plans for Third Site missile defences in Poland and the Czech Republic. He then sold out to the Russians for . . . . NOTHING!
Speaking about Darfur, Obama said: "“we cannot, in good conscience, stand by and let the genocide continue.” So exactly what has he done about that? NOTHING!
And my personal favorite: "As president, I'll make our space program a priority again by devoting the attention and resources needed to not only inspire the world with feats of exploration but also improve life here on Earth." Have you looked at NASA lately?
Nice try, but you really need to stop reading Obama's talking points and do some personal research for yourself.
Gee...you missed a bunch. Where have you been?
Really; the one person who has spent more tax payer dollars than all the previous presidents combined; is good for America? I think not. We are headed for the biggest Depression this Country has ever seen if we re-elect this idiot. All of his cabinet is made up of criminals and he has appoint more czars than any other president in history; and even more that the last ten presidents combined. He is printing dollars to bvail out the Euro and he is taking us down with all of those phony socialist states that call themselves democracies. An informed person is the only real person who can separate fact from fiction. Been there and done that.
It's the 21st century and it's a global economy. One large segment of it...whether it's us, the Europeans, or the Chinese...goes down, they take the rest down.
Get over it.
I agree with him, I like Obama too.
Up until now I liked Santorum. Preferring Obama over Romney certainly brings his judgement and sanity into question.
Santorum openly asserting that Obama could be better to have as the winner in November than the GOP frontrunner is a point-blank gutshot, both to the RNC & to all of their affiliates' Super-PACs that are now in the process of sinking an epic fortune into trying to put a Republican in the White House.
John McCain's campaign in 2008 looks like Erwin Rommel in 1941 next to this circus.
(in before VP nominee jello-wrestling)
Santorum almost always says what he means and means what he says. That is the scariest thing about him. But he is right...I have read everything I could about Romney, and the more you read, the less you know about what he "believes". I am not even sure he is a Mormon, from a couple of references he has made.
Is that an endorsement from Rick Santorum? Thanks rick. Obama/Biden in 2012.
Everything these guys are saying now will come back to haunt them in November. Yipee.
The only smart guy was the governor of NJ who realized that the nuts are running his asylum. Best to stay home get on the treadmill, call Jerry Nadler for some weight loss tips and wait for 2016. Smart fella.
Even Santorum finally admits Obama is 'the man'
lol ...oh ok ...hey how come obuma is not talking about healthcare on the 2nd aniversary...hmmmm ...... wheres the article on this pro obuma site about all the protest today against obumacare and his attack on religion ????
The absolute kiss of death? Would you want Santorum's endorsement? Enough said.
This is not rocket science. Romney represents exactly what the Republican base hates...a member of what they perceive to be a non-Christian religion and a 1%er, who made his money off of investment banking. Not to even get started on the flip-flops.
The only thing that saved the Republican Party from TOTAL disaster following 2008 was the Tea Party. What brought them to the streets? The bank bailout. How did the Republican Party reward them? By nominating an ex-investment banker, who as a liberal Republican governor, created the model for Obamacare, supported the bank bailout, and made his money through laying off employees to increase profits.
Hahaha. The Rove election philosophy isn't based on conservatism; it's based on the old adage that "there is a sucker born every minute." That the American public has a 30 second attention span.
Tonight's headline: "Obama disavows any connection to Santorum and refuses to accept his endorsement.
Nah...it's a big tent. More likely, he'll say: "Glad to see Rick coming around."
Now you can understand why Rick is inemployed; and like his idol; President Obama; who will soon be unemployed; you can really understand why neither of these two give Hope to America. Each one tells lies and opens their mouths and stick their foot in them more than any idiot I have ever seen or heard. God; anybody has to be better than these two. A Flake and a Fluke. They should take their Lewis and Martin show on the road at Their expense and not tax payer expense. "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death". Now that is what I want in a Leader. And as Ronald Reagan would have put it; "Tear Down That Charade Mr. Obama"!
I will be happy to give you death. Just let me know when and where. Me and the second amendment will take care of your wish.
angryveteran: I can't stop laughing because one of your own just told the truth and endorsed President Obama and not Herman cain or that professional liar Mitt Romney, talk about putting a grenade up Romney butt with the pin pulled out is really funny.
I think you have Romney mixed up with Obama. Just a hint. Obama is the black guy and Romney is the bland guy.
Iowa-Guy: I totally agree with you that Mitt Romney is the bland guy with the only thing going for him is having alot of money and four great-great grandmothers who lived in mexico.
This has gone way over being personal because it seems like if santorum had his way he would beat romney up if he could get away with it, if they ever write a book talking about infighting in the gop it would be a best seller hands down.LOL
Good point and it would seem that "The History of the Republican Party," is about to be written.
GOP better off with Obama than 'Etch A Sketch' Republican...
Actually Rick, America's better off with Obama than any Republican..
Generalization like that does not help anyone.
I don't like the Republican choices either, but I prefer to look at my options and try to pick the best leader for the country.
I maintain that there are still some good Republicans out there, but the extremists seem to have driven them underground.
Correction Mr. Santorum; the USA is exceedingly better off with Pres. Obama than anything the GOP has to offer including you. You, the weak-kneed candidate, devoid of integrity; who while taking gun shots today at a target range failed to man up and ostracize what is becoming clearer by the day to be the face of the GOP core. As you were shooting, a woman hollered out: "Pretend it's Obama."
This woman represents the base of the GOP, and Rick Santorum and his fellow partners in crime against American humanity represent all that is wrong with the GOP. No balls, and no willingness to confront and denounce wrong even when it slaps them in the face. Wonder what this b..... had to say about Trayvon Martin???
Save your $$ GOP, you lost the next election a long time ago simply because you lack the courage and integrity that the position of president requires. Not even close!
Look, what do expect. Rick seems like a nice guy with many good values. He is just not the brightest bulb around...running on about 30 watts. Just look at how many shoes he has put in his mouth lately. Obama would kill him in a debate, Rick's not good at handling liars!
Santorum is a douche, I get so tired of the normal political bullsh$! that these politicians stoop down to. Their remarks aren't going to change the minds of most people, or at least it never sways my vote. People if you are going to vote, study up on the candidates ignore the TV commercials.
What a POS mslsd.com is it takes 10 minutes for a page to load because they have it so chock full of apps and ads and other BS. Guess you have to when mslsd TV is like throwing money out the window.
Now I can see why Santorum lost his Senate seat by 20 points - he's a jerkwad. Give it up Rick. You are an embarrassment to the GOP. And I write that as a Conservative Republican.
Pretty simple...Santorum sensed he was the "candidate of the base." The establishment has effectively said (via DeMint and others): "That may be so, but to win the general election, our nominee has to be further toward the center of the general electorate, particularly Independents.
Santorum is angry because he's just been screwed by the Republican establishment.
What a rickdickulous comment.....so far left he can't see the middle any more.
Shouldn't that be right? The lefties are the anti-religion baby killers. Remember? Someone get this person a script! Stat!
stayoutofmypocket: Seems like Santorum came to his senses and told the truth for a change or that he hates Romney more than he dislikes President Obama?
Santorum telling the people they are better off with Obama is the only intelligent thing to come out of your religious zealot taliban minded brain.