Santorum tangles with Gingrich, same-sex marriage supporters

Concord, NH (CNN) - Perhaps it's the decidedly non-Iowan terrain. But Rick Santorum is off to a bumpy ride in New Hampshire.

First, Newt Gingrich diminished Santorum's role in Congress, suggesting Thursday the former Pennsylvania Senator was a "junior partner" in the 1990's Republican revolution in Washington.

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"He clearly in historical experience would have been the junior partner," Gingrich said Thursday, reminding voters which Republican was really behind the Contract with America.

Asked about Gingrich's comments, Santorum seemed actually taken aback for a moment.

Santorum then noted his role in the "Gang of Seven," a group of freshman Republican lawmakers who exposed a scandal at the House bank in the early 90's before Gingrich rose to power as speaker.

"I was no junior partner in that. Newt was not involved in that revolution when it came to the corruption and the scandals. He sat on the sidelines," Santorum said.

Gingrich went on to question whether Santorum could mount a serious national campaign for the GOP nomination. Santorum pointed to his one day one million dollar fundraising haul after his near victory in the Iowa caucuses.

Later in the day, Santorum tangled with proponents of same-sex marriage at a convention of college Republicans in Concord.

"Are we saying everybody has the right to marry," Santorum asked the crowd.

"Yes, yes," shouted several members in the crowd.

Santorum later equated same sex marriage with polygamy.

It was not the first time Santorum has stirred up controversy over the issue of homosexuality. The former Pennsylvania Senator once appeared to compare homosexuality to beastiality in an interview with the Associated Press in 2003.

However in an interview on CNN's John King USA Wednesday, Santorum said those comments were misunderstood.

Santorum also seemed to take a dig at first lady Michelle Obama, recalling a controversial comment she made in 2008 about her husband's campaign.

"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country," Mrs. Obama said in March 2008. Conservatives questioned why she did not feel proud about the U.S. before her husband ran for President.

"There is a different point of view (of the country)," Santorum said.

Santorum left the college Republican convention to a loud chorus of boos.

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