Republican presidential candidates are increasing their scrutiny of the surging Rick Santorum. On Friday, Texas congressman Ron Paul became the latest candidate to take a swing at the former Pennsylvania senator.
Mr. Paul’s website now features a page dedicated to displaying what it calls Mr. Santorum’s “liberal voting record.”
The page features Mr. Santorum’s record of voting for former President Bill Clinton’s appointment of Alan Greespan to the Federal Reserve Board, a debt limit increase resolution, a bill for an increase in minimum wage and more.
Mr. Santorum’s voting record was originally posted to South Carolina Hotline, a South Carolina news website.
In posting the voting record to their website, Mr. Paul’s campaign team also included remarks from the Texas congressman’s son, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY.) attacking Mr. Santorum.
“He voted to double the size of the Department of Education… He voted to expand Medicare and add free drugs for senior citizens and he has voted for foreign aid. Those are not conservative principles,” said Senator Paul, in an appearance on CNN Monday. “Seventy-seven percent of the American people are opposed to foreign aid and Rick Santorum has voted for it every time it’s come down.”
Mr. Paul himself, also criticized Mr. Santorum Monday, calling him “very liberal.”
“Have you looked at his record? Go look at his record. He spends too much money, he wasn’t leading the charge to slash the budgets and vote against big government,” said Mr. Paul Monday.
Prior to his surge in Iowa, Mr. Santorum had categorized the Texas congressman as the “libertarian candidate.”
Texas Governor Rick Perry has also questioned Mr. Santorum’s senatorial voting record, calling him the “earmark king,” and questioning his claims of being a fiscal conservative.
Mr. Santorum and Mr. Paul will have the chance to directly engage each other Saturday night during the nationally televised presidential debate in New Hampshire.
