Rick Santorum Strolls Back 2008 Mitt Romney Recommendation

Republican presidential prospect Rick Santorum, who's just barely trailing Boston Gov. Mitt Romney within the latest Iowa poll, guarded his 2008 recommendation of Romney with regard to president on NBC's "Meet the actual Press" Sunday early morning.

The former senator from Pennsylvania has criticized Romney within his TV ads to be too liberal, a far cry in the press release he sent during the 08 Republican presidential primaries phoning Romney the "clear conservative candidate" who'll "stand up for that conservative principles all of us hold dear. inch

When asked regarding his old declaration endorsing former Boston Gov. Romney, Santorum said he or she was just gunning for that most conservative candidate he thought had an opportunity of stopping the actual relatively moderate Sen. Steve McCain (R-Ariz. )#) at that time.

"That was 5 days, four times before super Wednesday, and it became clear in my experience that there had been two candidates within the race at that time, " Santorum stated. "I would have loved to possess Mike Huckabee available, but I created the political common sense, right or incorrect, that he had the very best chance to cease John McCain. inch

Compared to themself, Santorum said, Romney isn't conservative enough.

"Everybody on that stage that's in these discussions has conservative ideals... and generally displays the Republican celebration, " he stated. "The question is actually, are those values ones that you could trust when these people become president of america? Is it someone who you realize is gonna battle, not just for several things, but the whole Republican platform? inch

Santorum has frequently criticized Romney with regard to switching sides on issues for example abortion -- which he accustomed to openly support because governor of Massachusetts -- to be able to win over traditional Republicans. But Santorum has moved towards the right on abortion too: When he had been running for reelection within 2005, he told the actual Associated Press he supported legalized abortion within cases of rape as well as incest.

Now, Santorum opposes abortion in most circumstances, and recently authorized an anti-abortion "fetal personhood" promise that commits him or her to supporting the federal amendment that could give legal personhood rights for an undeveloped zygote. This type of personhood measure, such as the one recently declined by voters within Mississippi, would don't have any exception for rape or even incest.

Santorum explained how the reason he might support laws that offer exceptions for rape as well as incest, as he professed to complete in 2005, would be to "move the golf ball forward" on outlawing abortion.

"Today I'd support laws that could provide for individuals exceptions, " he or she said, "but I'm not on their behalf. "