(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Monday he was unfazed by recent ramped-up rhetoric coming from his opponent Rick Santorum.
"I'm not going to worry too much about what Rick is saying these days," Romney said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." "I know when you're falling further and further behind, you get a little more animated."
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Santorum made headlines Sunday when he claimed Romney would be the "worst" Republican candidate to match up against President Barack Obama in the general election, based on the issue of health care reform.
The former Massachusetts governor, he argued, would be poorly armed in a fight against the president after signing off on a health care law in the Bay State that critics now label a "blueprint" for the controversial federal health care legislation passed in 2010.
Romney argues, however, that he would attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act as president, saying states should have the right to regulate health care laws, not Washington.
"It's a power grab by the federal government. It violates the 10th Amendment. It violates the economic principles and economy freedom in this country," Romney said on CNN. "It needs to be repealed."
The candidate also blasted Obama over a private conversation caught by microphone with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in which the president said he could be more flexible on the missile defense system in Europe after the election.
Romney joined other top Republicans in slamming the president over the remark on Monday and for making backroom deals with a country that Romney called America's "Number One geopolitical foe."
“Who is it that always stands up with the world's worst actors? It's always Russia, typically with China alongside. In terms of a geopolitical foe, a nation that’s on the Security Council, and as of course a massive nuclear power, Russia is the geopolitical foe. The idea that our president is planning on doing something with them that he's not willing to tell the American people before the election is something I find very, very alarming,” Romney said.
The White House hopeful also opened up about how he spent some recent time-off from the campaign trail, saying he went to watch "The Hunger Games" with his grandchildren over the weekend.
"I read serious books, but every now and then I read just for fun," Romney said, talking about how he read the book before seeing the movie. "That was weekend fun, so it was nice to see a flick for the first time in a long time."
Also see:
Santorum: Romney 'worst Republican' to run against Obama
Ryan's open to V.P spot
Graham's 'comfortable' with Romney
Plouffe calls out GOP candidates over Obama reaction
Watch The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer weekdays at 4pm to 6pm ET and Saturdays at 6pm ET. For the latest from The Situation Room click here.
Hahaha.. If Russia is our number 1 foe then why are we thinking of going after Iran. Why not just "take over Russia" or "turn Russia into glass" or just "take 'em out" ?? Looks like Romney went to sleep during the cold war and just woke up. This guy is so far away from reality its amazing this guy is leading the pack ..
Just a little political law the president said to the out going Russian president he could be more flexible on the European Missile defense system due to the fact he would be dealing with a new president. Now that Geo-politic.
The Russians are not our enemy, politicians are the enemy! Especially politicians that start wars!!
Romney thinks it's the 80's
The Republican Party is the greatest danger to America.
Bush almost destroyed us.
Bully needlessly picking a fight. Maybe we should rename you Zimmerman, Mitt.
This dope, like most Republicans thinks it still 1952
Clearly foreign policy is not mitt's forte. Scares me a little.
Face It Folks
Anyone who votes for Mittens Romney as president is a complete moron without any sense at all.
Oh I get it, Mitty just shook his etch-a-sketch when he stated Russia, instead of Iran was our #1 foe.
Oh geez the pubs are gonna start hating russian again