Santorum: Romney uses teleprompters, I don't

Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, speaks at a Tea Party rally in St. Clair Shores, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Updated Feb. 27, 11:54 a.m. ET

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Many Republican candidates make barbed jokes about President Obama's use of a teleprompter. But Rick Santorum seemed to repurpose the jab Sunday to target rival Mitt Romney, who sometimes uses a teleprompter for speeches on election nights and other occasions.

"I never have to worry about what I say because I will say what's on my heart. I might not say it the most articulate sometimes and I understand that, but I have no teleprompters. I answer questions," Santorum told an audience at a nightclub here. "I answer questions from the public in front of cameras. I answer questions from the press every day. I don't hide. I don't hide from the public. I don't have structured events where only my friends are in front of me to take questions."

Special Section: Campaign 2012

Both men were on television interview shows answering questions Sunday, but Romney holds few press availabilities compared to Santorum. The former Pennsylvania senator often seems unable to resist a news camera in his face, no matter what the question.

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said her candidate is plenty accessible. "Not only has he had town halls this week and taken questions from voters, he has done local TV and radio interviews every day, all day and that's not to mention the editorial boards as well," she said in an email. However, Romney doesn't routinely put local interviews on his schedule or alert his traveling press corps when he is doing them. It has been 19 days since his last press availability.

With less than two days until the Michigan primary on Tuesday, Santorum unleashed not just the teleprompter allusion but a whole series of attacks taking off from Romney's description of himself as "resolute" at a debate last week in Arizona. "Maybe he doesn't understand what the term resolute means. But it means that you're supposed to have sort of a resolve, a consistent pattern of beliefs," Santorum said. "Not be for the private sector when you're out there working on your own and then government bailouts when you're in public policy. Not saying that you believe in conservative economics and then supporting government takeover of the healthcare system."

Santorum was particularly sarcastic about Romney's defense of the Massachusetts health care law which he signed as governor. Romney says it is appropriate for states to pass their own laws but he'd repeal the federal health reform law that puts in place a national system similar to the one in Massachusetts. "Wow, that's a big difference," Santorum said mockingly, summing up Romney's position as "I'm for government running your life only in the state capitol, not at the nation's capitol."

CBS News/National Journal reporter Sarah Boxer contributed to this report.

[medicalbiller]

I don't think most street preachers use teleprompters. They just ramble on about whatever delusion strikes them that day.
I don't care if it is a teleprompter or a concrete wall. These guys both need something placed firmly between their feet and their mouths so we can evict the current occupant of the White House.

[Darrien5]

Really Santorum?? ... Well you need to USE one, because you came across like a walking insane asylum, in the Arizona debate .. going on and on trying to explain and justify why you voted for things you didn't believe in.
Romney is the real deal, and is the guy the democrats are afraid of going up against Barack Obama.

[Lindag10]

There's a "telepromter war"? I guess you must lose points if you use one. Sanctimous is winning as he makes more gaffes than Romney. LMAO

[grey4449]

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

[ProgressNow]

Rick Santorum: "Vote for me, I'm just as stupid as you are; I prove it every day!!!!!!"

[amusedwriter]

who cares if Obama, Santorum, or Romney use a teleprompter? If anything I'd say at least they did their homework and got their speech ready. I'd prefer if people could deliberate a little better rather than resorting to name calling. I think he needs to stop being a near-sighted gynecologist.

[noloyalisti]

Is that why you say such crazy radical things Sanitorium? And who cares about who uses a teleprompter if it helps you say what you want to say. Otherwise you might appear to be a complete idiot like Sanitorium.

[daffy64]

"God is my teleprompter!"

Hey. That works.

[JoaoCaneta]

"I might not say it the most articulate" - R. Santorum. Well put.

[nirak2-2009]

It doesn't matter if Santorum uses a Teleprompter or not.
Only garbage comes out of his mouth either way.