Republican presidential candidates Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and Ron Paul, congressman from Texas, went head to head during Monday night’s Republican presidential debate in South Carolina.
Mr. Santorum and Mr. Paul sparred on the stage Monday night, trading sharp barbs with one another, while polls show the Republican duo trailing former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
Speaking Monday, Mr. Paul slammed Mr. Santorum’s record in the U.S. Senate, saying the Pennsylvania Republican is more liberal than he lets on.
Mr. Paul, who in recent days has run television ads in the state of South Carolina slamming Mr. Santorum, said the latest criticism was warranted, considering Mr. Santorum’s voting record on key issues.
“We mentioned No Child Left Behind and that he supported deficits times five, raising the national debt, and that he voted for prescription drug programs, as well as he voted against right-to-work. And I could have added, you know, things like — he voted for Sarbanes-Oxley,” said Mr. Paul.
Mr. Santorum defended his record, citing his recent victory in Iowa in which he said voters responded to his message of conservatism.
“Congressman Paul has been quoting sources like CREW, which is a George Soros or a left-wing-backed organization, saying that I was corrupt. And in fact, throughout his entire ad, he quotes a lot of left-wing organizations,” said Mr. Santorum. “Well, of course, left-wing organization say a lot of bad things about me. I would expect them. And that’s — I wear that as a badge of honor, not something that I’m ashamed of.”
The Pennsylvania also took time to admit shortcomings, adding that he remains focused on pushing a conservative agenda, which he accused Mr. Paul of abandoning.
“With respect to some of the votes that they elicit, I admit, I’m a strong conservative, but I’m not perfect. President Bush’s signature initiative of No Child Left Behind, I voted for it, I shouldn’t have. It was something that I said, and I will say publicly, that we should repeal,” Mr. Santorum added. “In fact, we should repeal all of federal government’s role in primary and secondary education, and if you give me the opportunity, I’ll do that.”
Recent polls show Mr. Santorum and Mr. Paul vying for delegates in the state of South Carolina, the latest to hold its Republican presidential primary. Recent polls show Mr. Paul and Mr. Santorum far behind Mr. Romney, who is widely seen as the Republican front-runner. The Massachusetts Republican has already secured victories in Iowa and New Hampshire and a victory in South Carolina could make it a two-way race between him and Mr. Paul.
