
Tampa, Florida (CNN) – Rick Santorum offered his most high-profile praise of former rival Mitt Romney during a speech at the Republican National Convention Tuesday evening.
The former presidential candidate – who engaged in a prolonged and sometimes bitter battle with Romney before dropping out of the race in April – spoke highly of Romney and vice presidential nominee, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan.
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At one point, he spoke passionately about a social issue to praise Romney.
"If America is going to succeed, we must stop the assault on marriage and the family in America today," Santorum said. "From lower taxes to reforming social programs, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are dedicated to restoring the home where married moms and dads are … raising good kids in our neighborhoods."
Santorum also praised Romney on the issue of education.
"Mitt Romney believes that parents and the local community must be in charge of our schools – not the Department of Education," Santorum said.
And weighing in on the current debate over welfare, Santorum accused President Obama of acting like "he's above the law" by "waiving the work requirement for welfare."
Though Romney and his supporters have pushed that claim, independent fact checkers have said it is false.
Ending his speech, Santorum made a direct appeal for Romney's election.
"In November we have the chance to vote for life and liberty, not dependency," Santorum said. "A vote for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will put our country back in the hands of leaders who understand where America can - and for the sake of our children must go - to keep the dream alive."


Sigh. Another conservative hack. Huh! I can't believe he was able to chock out any praise for Romney since he really didn't seem to care for him during the primaries. I can say with complete truth that I am glad Romney won instead of you. While I don't care for Romney, I can't stand the sight of you.
Rick Santorum once described Romney as "the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama."
santorum see how good huckster did with his preaching gig. something to look into rick
I think "high" praise from Santorum means he was hitting the bong or crack pipe. You might as well print his hyperpartisan tripe and family values rhetoric on toilet paper since it just about as useful.
You can dress Romney up, but he is still a liar and a flip flopper. Santorum is just a plain idiot.
Meet Romney’s five boys -
the Koch brothers, Adelson, Karl Rove & Dick Cheney -
who are trying to buy the election,
not for Romney
but for Romney to serve them.
Words from the good book for you social conservative types. Jeremiah 2:13 "For my people have committed two evils; they foresaken me the fountain of living waters,and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water". Let's imagine the water as the words from Santorum, Romney, and the rest of the GOP. Now imagine the as the cistern as the truth. You better recognize.
Obama supporter here...and while I'm no fan of Romney, am sooooooo glad you Repubs didn't nominate Santorum. Although, Santorum as your candidate would have 100% ensured a second Obama term.
Wow Santorum, that was a nice flip, to go from Romeney is the worst candidate to run against the President to this. I hope the sale of your soul fetched a good price.
Romney is too fiscally liberal, too Big Government. Republicans you continue to fail us with Democrats in red clothing.
I am writing in Ron Paul.
V
From what I heard – Santorum gave a sermon and only mentioned Romney in the last couple of sentences. . . I wouldn't call that "High Praise"!
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From what I heard, FOX News isn't happy with Chris Christie either. What they thought they would be getting from a Santorum or a Christie is hard to tell. It's not as if Romney didn't rip Santorum apart during the primaries. We all know that Christie doesn't want a Romney presidency. At this point, Rove probably doesn't either. Then again, what Republicans think they'll be getting with a Romney presidency is hard to tell also. I actually respect Christie and Ron Paul for not fully endorsing Romney. Too bad others aren't so honest. Unlike his wife, I really don't think Mitt will be lifting America up. It's time Republicans realize he'll most likely do nothing more than drag the GOP down even more so than he already has.
Rudy NYC
Woman In California wrote:
.... I heard this weekend that this (man) as a child led a BLIND MAN into a door and laughed about it. What kind of a person would do something like that?.....
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I've done far worse than that when I was a kid. The old ring the doorbell and leave a burning paper lunch bag on the sidewalk trick. The real trick was that bag wasn't empty. It was full of the same stuff that Republicans are trying to sell to the voters.
I don't know Rudy, I can't imagine ANYONE doing something this cruel. It gave me the creeps....
Why shouldn't we expect chronic liar and inescapable delusional Santorum to be lying niw?
I'm no Obama supporter, but this RNC has clearly demonstrated that the GOP is a complete and utter mess. It is embarrassing that the GOP has become the Extremist Tea Party, and that it is a good ole' boys club who will do anything to make sure their ilk will have office (see: Santorum)
I wish the Dems were much better, but they are not. That party is full of bigots and idiots as well.
This is one guy who is voting Johnson for 2012.
So a few months back, Santorum was calling Romney "the worst Republican to ever run", and now he's wholeheartedly backing him.
Yesterday, the RNC theme was "We built that", which was an out on context quote widely circulated in the right wing media.
Now Santorum's speech is also taking a widely misinterpreted and debunked part of an Obama speech and making it a central theme.
No wonder Chris Christie wants to start "an era of truth telling" within the GOP.
Santorum is the guy that said going to college was for snobs. Ryan's budget, which Slick Rick supports, cuts college funding. For those poor kids of those single mothers that Rick is suddenly so worried about.
When the intellectual lightweights have center stage, it is always a hopping good time.
@Anonymous – There isn't a government program that isn't funded by taxpayer money and all those roads, bridges etc. are built by taxpayer money. When someone builds a business and uses roads, bridges etc. they are only using what they already paid for. The GOVERNMENT doesn't have any money unless it comes from the people, yes I said PEOPLE: those entities that pay taxes... again... that build the roads, bridges etc. Do you understand yet?
Praise for Romney from Santorum? Are we sure he didn't swallow his tongue?
Lets see, what can Santoum say about Romney, " Romney is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama."
Scott: U mean back on the track Bush put us on that created the mess in the first place. Back there? No thanks.
This picture is worth a thousand words. It would have been a nice gesture for Santorum to recognize all families, traditional or not. We all contribute every day. Much of what he has today came his way when he was in Congress. We are all paying our taxes so that Mr. Santorum and others could go to Washington.
Not praising the candidate Romney it is more like sucking upto him to get some positon if (ever) Romney becomes president. hese two were clobbering each other during the primaries. Can't imagine them becoming best buddies after that.
Really?
Do you understand yet?
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Oh, absolutely. Quite like "This is the House that Jack Built", don't you think? Whether you understand or not is still up for grabs.
"I don't know Rudy, I can't imagine ANYONE doing something this cruel. It gave me the creeps...."
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That's what happened when they were careless about walking their dogs, and would leave a good bye present in our grass. They deserved it, as far as we were concerned.
False and Frivolous.......Gotta love that one.....