Ron Paul: Santorum is "desperate"

By: Lindsey Boerma
Topics: Campaign 2012

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul addresses an audience inside Warriner Hall at Central Michigan University Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

(Credit: AP Photo/The Saginaw News, Brittney Lohmiller)

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Ron Paul on Saturday laughed off remarks made by fellow GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum earlier in the day speculating that Paul and Mitt Romney have a backroom running mate deal going.

"I don't know what all that meant," Paul chuckled backstage of a rally he held here at Central Michigan University. "No, we've never had a conversation, anything like that ... but he's a family person, I've known him for five years, so it is a little bit different. But I don't agree with [him on] hardly anything, probably."

Santorum has openly speculated that Paul and Romney are working together. He vented his frustration at multiple events on Saturday that "in 20 debates, Ron Paul never attacked Mitt Romney." During last week's debate in Arizona, Santorum said, "I felt like messages were being slipped behind my chair."

Paul admitted to reporters that he's never "volunteered" an attack on Romney during a debate, but said he "answered the questions when they asked me." He said Santorum's sudden gripe about the issue shows that he's "desperate."

As for the Texas Congressman's attack ads, which have been harsh on Santorum but absent on Romney, particularly in Michigan, Paul said that "right now the anti-Romney candidate is Santorum, so I have to get his votes, as I did at one time with Gingrich."

Though Saturday marked Paul's first day campaigning in Michigan, more than 2,000 students and other supporters greeted him with signs and chants at what was billed as a "Soldier, Airmen, and Sailors for Ron Paul" rally. Paul has been polling third in the state, behind Santorum and Romney.

Asked about his expectations, Paul said his campaign isn't shooting for a specific percentage threshold, but bragged that he holds the second-highest number of "firm delegates" so far of any of the candidates.

"I feel good, but I'm realistic," he said. "And this is our first trip up where, so we expect to do well but I don't have any precise predictions. But we have a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of supporters, and I'm encouraged when I come to a meeting like we had here tonight."

Lindsey Boerma
Lindsey Boerma covers the 2012 presidential campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by nadelio February 29, 2012 9:23 AM EST: Santorum sounds kinda paranoic. I don't think he's mentally stable.; Reply to this comment


by MsmCorrupt February 28, 2012 7:38 AM EST: I just convert to previous Obama supporters into Ron Paul supporters. It was easy to do; I just told them that one believes in individual freedom and the other one doesn't. Then I showed them the facts to back this up.; Reply to this comment

by grey4449 February 27, 2012 6:22 PM EST

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

We need to make church and morals important in the UNITED STATES again. Look at our kids drugs, alcohol, and teen pregnancies. HOW MANY OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE DIED TAKING DRUGS? All the candidates want the same things more jobs, cut taxes, cut big government and get rid of Obama care. One candidate wants to make family important again. If you want better for your kids and grandkids. VOTE SANTORUM

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by ProgressNow February 27, 2012 8:39 PM EST: I'm gay, so that's not really a factor for me....


by maemiller2 February 28, 2012 4:44 AM EST: These things are not the President's job.

Making family important is something only the family can do. Morals are taught by the family. Keeping kids off drugs is a family responsibility.

What you want is admirable, but the President can't take your kids to church - but you can. The President can't watch them to make sure they aren't getting drunk or taking drugs - but you can. The government can't keep your little girl from having sex - but you can keep track of her little fanny - and get her birth control if necessary.

If you like Santorum's responsibility toward family - then show the same responsibility toward your own family. That's really what all of us need to do.

by noloyalisti February 27, 2012 4:57 PM EST

I can't decide who is more of a looney tunes, Sanitorium or Paul. I am finding out that the people who want Paul are the stoners who want want legalized. While I think it should be at least decriminalized, destroying the fabric of America is too steep a price to pay.

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by ExerciseSoundmoney February 27, 2012 6:46 PM EST: don't be simple-minded. Santorum is a dangerous religious fanatic. Paul is a responsible congressman/doctor who supporters are NOT chanting legalize pot.. they are chanting END THE FED. Pay attention! The fabric is already frayed and the ONLY one who will allow Americans to repair it is Ron Paul.


by maemiller2 February 28, 2012 4:55 AM EST: I'm not having any trouble deciding who's the looney tune here - since I'm not stoned.

C'mon Ohio! Shake it up! Make us count! Ron Paul 2012!

by twmat311 February 27, 2012 1:19 PM EST

I sort of like Paul; he seems to know he has no chance of getting the nomination, yet he can have a good chuckle over the others (the "because he IS a fake" moment; I loved it).

If he's a spoiler and keeps Santorum out of 1st place, I say let him have a ball.

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by maemiller2 February 28, 2012 5:17 AM EST: He's got a chance - if all of us who think he's just what our country needs get to the polls and vote for him. It's up to us - not the media and not the GOP - though I gotta tell ya, we have to watch them like hawks to keep it honest.


by heavystarch February 28, 2012 2:03 PM EST: Actually Paul has a very solid chance this year due to the TRUE allocation of delegates. Right now the media is selling you a line that everyone has their delegates locked up when the truth is they don't. The Delegates can be swayed in some states, depending on their rules, to vote for whom ever they wish. Most people that are actually getting elected as Delegates in many of these states are Ron Paul supporters.

So if they have a chance at the GOP Convention in Tampa, FL - they will vote for Ron Paul.

This is what it means to win Delegates and not just the popularity/beauty contest that is the Straw Vote-Caucus.


by kevjustice February 27, 2012 11:15 AM EST: GOP=RIP! GOP=PUP TENT PARTY!; Reply to this comment

by Millionsix February 27, 2012 10:48 AM EST

Santorum is such a baby. Nothing is worse than the communist muslim we have in there now though. However if you know anything of American history and love your country the choice is clear RON PAUL!!!

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by American_voter February 27, 2012 11:32 AM EST: I use to like Ron Paul until the Arizona Debate. I thought he did a "hit job" on Santorum as far as where his focus was directed during the debate.
I still like many of Ron Paul's opinions but I believe in Santorum and his reasoning for why he voted the way he has and will vote Santorum in the Primary.


by twmat311 February 27, 2012 1:21 PM EST: If Santorum feels picked on, it's because he's asking for it. This isn't a beauty contest; if Rick can't pony up with some real answers, he should go take a walk on Lobbyist Row, where he's so well loved.

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by Devlyn13 February 27, 2012 10:34 AM EST

I really dont know alot about this guy paul but if he is laughing at ricky and knows the guy is nuts he is alright in my book

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by forsanity1 February 27, 2012 10:55 AM EST: Ron Paul is obviously working with Mitt Romney to assure Romney's nomination. Some say this is because he hopes his son Rand is on the Romney short list for VP. Could be...


by maemiller2 February 28, 2012 5:26 AM EST: Find out more about him - and you'll end up voting for him. Search you tube to hear him speak on a lot of important topics - and to hear from some pretty well-known people what they think of him. Then there's his web site.


by KansasCity-2012 February 27, 2012 10:22 AM EST: Ron Paul's simplistic approach does make voters yearn for the days when government was smaller and policies were simple.

Most citizens aren't old enough to know the profound changes that happened during the depression of the 1930's when the USA got off the gold standard, and then in 1947, when the Cold War began and supposedly ended in 1989. Citizens demanded an "Omnipotent" country, which was only sustainable when citizens were unified with fear, anger and neurotic expenditures to fight the feeling of pending doom. Republicans are quite good at that, but not most citizens want to live addicted to conflict, drama, and distress.

Ron Paul is one Republican does offer his party life without the distress, addiction to drama, and the anxiety under mass neurosis.

You can ask yourself what kind of a patriot you want to be....a calm one, or a worried and nervous one.

There are investors ready to hire employees either way. You just have to ask yourself what kind of country you want to have.

Rick Santorum is clearly a leader who needs voters to live in distress for his leadership to thrive.; Reply to this comment

by mariannpepit February 27, 2012 9:12 AM EST

I am not a fan of Ron Paul however, there are statements he made that are correct. He has been around a long time and is very versed on politics. Santorum should stop the degrading of Rommney and Obama and tell the public what changes he would make if he was president. Although I don't expect him to win the nomination. I am casting my vote for Gingrich win or lose.

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by maemiller2 February 28, 2012 5:52 AM EST: I feel the same way about voting for Ron Paul. So many times I felt like my only choice was to vote for the lesser of two evils. But I feel differently this election. I think the only votes that don't count are the ones where people don't vote for who they really think is the best choice. And you never know - one of our picks just might pull it off!