Greenville, South Carolina (CNN) - Rick Santorum delivered a stark warning to South Carolina voters Saturday, telling them Mitt Romney is a sure loser in November if he becomes the Republican presidential nominee.
"Don't buy all this baloney that we need a moderate to win," Santorum told about 200 people gathered at Tommy's Country Ham House in Greenville. "We need someone with strong core convictions who is going to appeal to the voters in the states we need to win and that's not him. That's us."
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Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, has trained his fire on Romney at stop after stop as he campaigns across the Palmetto State ahead of the January 21 primary.
But his sharp criticisms seemed to carry a fresh sense of urgency Saturday.
"The establishment is trying to ram down the people of South Carolina's and everybody else's throat Gov. Romney, as if he is inevitable," Santorum said.
He said Barack Obama would "destroy" Romney in the general election because he does not represent a "bold and courageous" contrast to the president.
Santorum cited the Romney-designed Massachusetts health care plan, which was a model for Obama's plan, as an example.
"Why would we pick someone who has had a record that as a liberal governor of Massachusetts to lead our country at a time we need fundamental change?" he asked.
Santorum's main rival for conservative voters here, Newt Gingrich, said Friday that he largely plans to ignore Santorum in the final week of the primary and instead try to cut into Romney's lead.
Santorum seems to have a similar plan.
He told CNN after the speech that while he plans to speak up against Gingrich when necessary, he also plans to make Romney his main target.
"I think there are differences between me and Gingrich but frankly there are bigger differences between Romney and I than Newt and I," he said.
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Man - he looks downright mean.
Damn straight Romney will get destroyed.
News flash!!! Romney isn't the only one our pres. will demolish. He may not be perfect, but he's head and shoulders above anyone the Reps. have to offer-those running now or any other one they want to bring in.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012/WARREN-ANYTIME!!
Just heard on MSNBC that Iowa is having a recount of votes-may be a change in the votes between Romney and Santorum. Santorum defeating Romney in Iowa-What a hoot!!!
Sorry Rick, you don't have much of a chance either. Moderates and independents determine elections, or at least they did in the past.
Is there really a lot of support for a catholic from southern evangelicals? If so, times have certainly changed...
It that is the case what does that say for him now? I see Romney destroying him now.
We know that
Every pundits request King of Bain to answer all the questions about Bain and put it rest.
Even if he answered now he has to explain to independents voters again in October
Bain is going no where as long as Romney stays in the race
Average 50,000 watching “When Mitt Romney came to town” everyday
Although I agree with him on the President winning in November, I think it is funny that he is launching bombs at Romney. He Santorum I guess you don't want the VP or a cabinet role huh??? HA!
Obama will destroy any of the right-wing nutt jobs running – especially the radical Satanorum who wants a big government theocracy to control your personal life.
Sanatorium is right. Obama will destroy Romney. However, after Romney has totally destroyed Sanatorium.
If he is being quoted verbatum, Santorum cannot put a sentence together correctly.
If people vote , Obama will win , if people don't vote , Romney will win.
It will be close
Santorum is right if evangelical social conservatives won't rally behind Romney in the general election. Maybe the evangelical social conservatives will decide in the Texas meeting to draft Santorum or Gingrich for a third party run at the presidency. So much the better for President Obama.
Personally I think Obama will destroy anyone the Republicans are putting forward. Romney will say whatever he thinks is necessary to get elected, Perry is no smarter than Sarah Palin, Santorum is a right wing bible thumper, Gingrich can't be trusted. That only leaves Huntsman who seems to be the smartest of them all but for some reason he does not stand a chance.
Santorum, doesn't make sense too, he keeps saying he is the conservative but loose in Iowa, no way he can be the nominee, he doesn't have enough accomplishment and proven record. They have to be humble and rally for Romney,
because Romney, is on top of all and can beat Obama, for his record.
No Santorum no Perry and no Newt!!!! Go Romney!!!!2012
Huntsman is considered to be too close to Obama. The anyone but Romney crowd is even more adamant about anyone who might be middle of the road.
Rick would lose 57 states.
Another Republican using a fearful word like "destroy" to scare up the base. What a surprise. Instead of fear, Ricky, how about you set out some plans? No? Too difficult?
Obama has to beat Romney because I don't want to see big business destroying people's lives anymore.