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Subscribe to RSSBARNESVILLE, Ohio -- Rick Santorum on Saturday said the entire Republican Party should voice its support for Senate candidate Todd Akin of Missouri -- including the top of the party's presidential ticket.
After holding a rally for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney here in the heart of Ohio's coal country, Santorum told NBC News that an Akin victory is essential for the GOP to regain control of the Senate and repeal President Barack Obama's health care law. The only way for that to happen, Santorum said, is for the GOP establishment to give the embattled Akin its full-fledged support.
"The entire Republican Party should stand up and say, 'You know what? He's our candidate, it's too important for the future of our country not to have a majority of the Senate in this upcoming election," Santorum said when asked if Romney needs to publicly support Akin. "I'm hoping everybody will join in and support the cause."
The former Pennsylvania senator and unsuccessful president candidate joined South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint in announcing their support of Akin on Wednesday.
"I don't know what the Republican establishment -- what their objective is, but if they want to repeal Obamacare, we better hold the Senate. And to hold the Senate, we better win Missouri," Santorum said.
Akin has taken heat from both sides of the aisle after using the term "legitimate rape" and saying women have a biological way of preventing unwanted pregnancies while he gave a now-notorious explanation of his views on abortion.
"My feeling is that we can win the presidency, but if we don't have 51 senators, we're not going to be able to repeal Obamacare," said Santorum.
Romney's former rival has been active campaigning for the presidential candidate in the Buckeye State. It's a primary Santorum nearly won on Super Tuesday, and his support was particularly strong in this part of the state, heavy with blue-collar workers and not far from his home of Pittsburgh.
Despite recent polls showing Romney needing to make up significant ground in Ohio, the former senator remained optimistic about the state turning red. "I'm confident that Mitt Romney will win Ohio, will when the presidency," he said. "People here understand how dangerous this president is."
That danger, Santorum said, stems from the president's energy policy, which he claims makes the U.S. more dependent on foreign oil. It is a message the Romney campaign hopes will resonate in this coal-rich part of the state. It is here where Republicans go to hammer Obama for waging a "war on coal."
"This is a president that is going to drive this country to economic ruin because of a phony ideology that, you know, somehow or another he has to control the seas rising and falling," Santorum said.
While Santorum has been traveling as a Romney surrogate, he also has been holding events in places like Iowa independent of the presidential race. It has fueled speculation that he could be eyeing another run.
Asked about his political future, Santorum would only say that he will be happy in 2016 to continue his work as a Romney surrogate. "I'll be happy to come back and campaign for Gov. Romney in four years," he said.
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I told yall this election was all about religion..they used religion ..and almost got our benefits from using the word of God to get it done
Can you believe Santorum.....Every time he says something can't believe he said it. The other day he said " Smart people will never vote for us".....
I thought about that a lot, it's the first intelligent thing he's said all year.
The fact he insulted every member of the GOP has nothing to do with it, because they didn't know he called them all stupid.....
hahahahahahaha
Isn't Huckabee and Gingrich also supporting this (for lack of other words P.O.S.)?
yes they are the born again born again born again born again .born one more time good people
Afraid we will have have to be born again after this election for the things we are seeing
Republicans for Obama
I don't need the GOP to tell me what type of Government I want!
so it would appear that "win at all costs" is his statement. To heck with what's best for the American people. what a puke...
Todd Aiken is an IDIOT!!!
Maybe he will be LEGITIMATELY voted out as he should. Awful awful moronic being!
If you believe that a woman can mentally challenge her body's ability to get pregnant during a rape
... then get on board!
Welcome to the new millineum, Rip Van Akin.
HRDawg - If a woman can really rule her body than we don't need contraceptives - I'll just say - please body don't get pregnant
Works for me - Yea! Because if we could do that we don't need abortions - or maybe if we want a child we can say make him blue eyed and blonde even though my husband and I are black haired and black skinned
Wow didn't know we had so much power - over our bodies! Go Akin tell me more
Akin appears to be your mainstream Bible Belt nut job. I attended college in Tulsa, which by the way is a private liberal university, where I learned what it meant to be a southern Republican Bible Thumper. Having been reared in northern Ohio this was a definite shock to the cultural and ethical sense I was brought up with.
So anything Akin espouses is not out of the ordinary for that part of the country. The only difference is Akin is stupid enough to say it publicly and being recorded as saying as such. It is too bad that during the Greenwood riots they didn't bomb Missouri too. We could have cleaned the slate and gotten rid of all of these inbred Republicans down there.
they love to use the word of God.to get what they want
I told yall facism will come in the name of god ..with the tea party
The Tea Party republicans are only saying what the mainstream Republicans are too smart to say in public. They want the Senate back, and they believe they can't get it without Akin. Mainstream Republicans agree, but they're not going to be stupid enough to endorse Akin because they know he's poison to moderates and women, because the campaign commercials against any mainstream endorsers of Akin would write themselves. Those Republicans will just quietly donate money and root from the sidelines.
And if by some miracle Akin does get a Senate seat and the Republicans take back the Senate, he will be getting the worst committees in the Senate, so they can put up with him until they can get a serious primary challenger in 2018. They'll be praying to their gods that Akin doesn't embarrass the party too much during his stint in the Senate.
they used the word of God to win 2010...this time it got stop..thank God
Remember Glenn beck?
Santorum backed Akin even after his comments he just publicly denounced him to save face with the Moderates. We all know Santorum is as zealous as the right comes when it comes to religious take over of social matters.
The only thing that has changed is now Akin is the only Republican in that race and Republicans have an "ends justify the means" attitude. They do not care what he said or what he believes or the fact that he ignored them and did not drop out. They will do whatever they have to ensure that they win even if it means backing someone the general public absolutely abhors.
yes that's the so called christian way of doing business.
or the correct word...mark of the beast party
Because Morality Matters.
I'm not a homo but I'm with you brother..glad you served for us..and i will defend your right from a christian man
Frothy Santorum would support Charles Manson if he was a "today's republican".
The GOP knows that RMoney doesn't stand a chance, and are scrambling to to hold their numbers in the house and senate.
Like I said before Women like me and our magical vaginas that can detect "legitimate rape" will be out in force to vote a straight Democratic ticket.
Please shut up Saintorum!
O&JOE
Reuters is reporting this story today: "Ann Romney told a Nevada television station her biggest concern if her husband, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, becomes president was his "mental well-being."
Even his own wife finally admits he's not up to the job. That's scary.
VOTE!
yes i saw that..and said wow .Like mica on morning joe
KJNC - We already had a Non Compis Mentis in the White House - as Sir Ronnie See how great that worked out
Now is Ann really telling us this guy does not have all of his faculties? Scary stuff
Please look to Jesus for lessons on morals and ethics. Or to Mohammed or Buddha Whatever your religion look to those who told you the truth, that one must love one another and screw satan. Don't be sucked in by satan (Akin) pretty talk.
Actually Janet - having had twelve years of Catholic indoctrination which didn't stick - I have hopelessly gone back to my roots - in the 5th Century Lithuanians adored trees - I think they may have had something there
One tree gives off enough oxygen to sustain four people
Then again there is reincarnation - dam just think if you had to keep doing it until you got it right
But for now my bird feeder does the trick!
Well, Another Righty Loser, Will do what ever to win so they can stay in charge, no matter what he said or done. Sad sack of sh1ts. Can you get any lower than this. It just never stops with the clown show of the republican party. Teabag turds...
Wow! Do these reporters proof read their articles? Maybe they are jobbing these out to grade schoolers considering the typos. It is almost humorous.
do they work for fox news
yeah rick with more idiot's like you out there supporting mitch romney he's sure to lose. just keep talking dummy.
The Gop says Obama endorses sharia law, but look what the republicans are trying to do to women (1) won't pass the Lily Ledbetter law (2) wants doctors to look up their Vagina's against there will (3) more or less accusing women of lying about rape (legitimate rape) (4) Forcing them to carry an unwanted child (5) Trying to stop birth control (6) want pass the law against abused partners.
yes they are siting up the mark of the beast. the tea party...don't think they are finish...if they lose
Anyone who has been fooled into worrying about Sharia law only needs to read a little bit of our Constitution, which describes the kinds of courts we can have in this country. Sharia law simply CANNOT happen here - it is nothing more RWNJ scare tactics.
gop, we don't need no stnkin facts!!
Ryan - open mouth, insert foot. Ryan has learned well from Romney. What a couple of clowns.
Support Akin? Sorry Santorum, I need a better reason than blind, ignorant, and illogical reasoning. Besides, I thought it was MORE IMPORTANT to elect those who will do what's best for the American Citizenry, not base it on party politics.
The republican party is becoming like a christian taliban. They think women cant get pregnant if they are raped, they want to mess with womans healthcare,get rid of medicare and give 70-80-90 year old people a coupon for insurance.Thats all we need is all these poor old people running around trying to buy insurance, Im Sure the insurance companys wont take advantage of them.Its almost like they are trying to thin thr herd.The party is getting scary.
hey people don't think they are finish if they lose...next go around they will tell you what you want to hear..to get elected....corporations are people now..
Yes I'm talking about the tea party
I have wonder what is wrong with the people of Missouri. This guy may very well win again. Is there something in the water?
they use the word of God...and make sure there opposite is ungodly from the voters even if not true
Jennifer it's the center of the Bible belt. There are a lot of people there that will believe anything they are told to believe....and it's foolish for anyone to support this way of thinking.
Republicans for Obama
I don't need the GOP to tell me what type of Government I want!
yes look at Texas...the state i was born and still live in?