Santorum flubs "commander-in-chief" experience

The former Pennsylvania senator was responding to a reporter's question about his message to Alabama voters, following lunch and a meet and greet at Dreamland Bar-B-Que here.

"Alabama has a chance to elect someone whose - who they agree with their values," Santorum said, with his wife Karen at his side. Those values, he continued, include "limited government, a belief in a strong national defense. I'm the only person in this race that wouldn't cut the defense department; I'm the only person in this race that has any experience as commander in chief."

Campaign spokesperson Alice Stewart later e-mailed CBS News/National Journal to clarify Santorum's remarks: "He meant 'to be' commander in chief. Referring to his experience on the Armed Services Committee."

Santorum has never held an executive position and therefore never been commander-in-chief; even if he had, his statement would be false, as GOP front-runner and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney acted as commander-in-chief of Massachusetts's National Guard.

The flub comes on the eve of primaries in Alabama and Mississippi, two states Santorum called "Newt Gingrich's backyard" and where he hopes the former House speaker will face a loss to "narrow the field" to Santorum, Romney and Ron Paul. Asked whether Santorum, trailing Romney significantly in delegates, has to win the two states to continue momentum, he said no.

"I don't think we have to win, I just think we have to continue to do well," he said. "I'm going into Newt's backyard and obviously Gov. Romney coming off of a big Super Tuesday. We've got to come in here and do well, and I think from all the polls we're doing very well. It's a very tight contest. The math going forward is going to be better for us."

Full CBS News coverage: Rick Santorum