Santorum vs. Politico

It is a requirement these days that every potential GOP 2012 candidate is asked incessantly about the onetime governor of Alaska, and Rick Santorum's response to the latest Sarah Palin question is stirring up some controversy. The scene was a conservative online radio show and the topic was Palin's skipping of the Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C., where Santorum (shown above at last year's CPAC) will speak tomorrow afternoon. Politico's Andy Barr framed the exchange thusly:

“I have a feeling that she has some demands on her time, and a lot of them have financial benefit attached to them,” Santorum told conservative commentator S.E. Cupp, who hosts an online radio show on Glenn Beck’s website.

Santorum added that Palin has “other business opportunities” — implying her paid speeches were the former Alaska governor’s priority.

The former Alaska governor has become a money-making machine since 2008, with her annual income estimated as high as $30 million.

Santorum — the father of seven children — also said that Palin has “other responsibilities,” such as raising her children, that he doesn’t.

“I don’t live in Alaska and I’m not the mother to all these kids and I don’t have other responsibilities that she has,” he said.

The headline on the story -- "Rick Santorum: Palin skipping CPAC for C-notes" -- implied that Santorum was slamming Palin for her decision to (repeatedly) snub the conservative gathering. But Senator Rick took to Twitter this morning to say that this was not the case. "This article is garbage.All I said was- she is VERY busy, PERIOD. Reporter trying to create something out of nothing" he wrote, sharing the Politico link.

Santorum has sent somewhat mixed signals about Palin, seeming to toe the line between not wanting to tick off her legions of admirers (and not disqualify himself as a Palin vice presidential nominee, perhaps) but also prepare to run a campaign against her if she decides to get in the race. In an Associated Press story out today he noted that "She's a megastar. You can't look at her and not think that she would have a huge impact on the nomination."

But in an interview with National Journal's Alex Roarty last month, it was clear that, for Santorum, Sarah Barracuda is a slippery subject:

“I like her a lot, but I’m not too sure that...” said Santorum in the interview. He paused before restating his response.

“Let’s put it this way: I’m not waiting for her to decide whether I’m running for president," he continued. "So, to me, she’s certainly been a net plus to Republican efforts. She was a huge factor in the last election, to me mostly to the good, maybe not all to the good. But 90 percent is pretty good.”

Asked directly if Palin is qualified to be president, Santorum responded: “What does it mean to be qualified to be president? She is born in this country and she’s the right age. Those are the qualifications.”