Daily Santorum: Anti-NYT, pro-VP?
The daily on Rick Santorum is out of Racine, Wisc., where the candidate last night lashed out a New York Times reporter who asked him to expound upon a remark he'd just made calling Mitt Romney "the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama."
When reporter Jeff Zeleny repeated the words to Santorum afterward, adding, "Is that true?" the candidate appeared to become angry.
"What speech did you listen to?" he said. "Stop lying. I said he is the worst Republican to run on the issue of Obamacare, and that's what I was talking about."
He went on: "Quit distorting my words ... It's [B.S.]."
CBS caught the exchange on tape.
Meanwhile, as Santorum blasts Romneycare outside the Supreme Court's health care lawsuit hearing, an interview he did with Christian Broadcasting Network is grabbing headlines this afternoon.
In the segment, Santorum is asked -- with the interviewer noting that he might "laugh off" the question -- if he would accept the VP nomination if asked. Santorum, who has spent most of his recent speeches referring to Romney as ill-equipped to defeat President Obama, replied that he would consider the job offer.
Here's the transcript:
David Brody: "If [Romney] for some reason asks you to be the Vice Presidential candidate on his ticket? I know, after it's all said and done. Would you even consider it?"
Rick Santorum: "Of course. I mean, look. I would do in this race as I always say, this is the most important race in our country's history. I'm going to do everything I can. I'm doing everything I can. I'm out there. In the last 10 months, I've had five days off. Two for Thanksgiving, and three for Christmas. I've been working every single day. My wife and my kids, we're just busting our tail, because we know their future and all of our childrens' future is at stake in this election and I don't want to be the guy who has to sit with my granddaughter, 20 years from now, and tell stories about an America where people once were free. I don’t want to have that conversation."
David Brody: "So, you're keeping your options open."
Rick Santorum: "I'll do whatever is necessary to help our country."