Romney v. Santorum

Newt Gingrich drew the bulk of the Romney campaign's attentions through the Florida primary and Nevada caucuses.  On Feb. 7 Rick Santorum's achieved largely symbolic but important wins and emerged as the strongest challenger to Mitt Romney.  The Romney campaign kept up a steady attack of press releases drawing from current and past news coverage, pointing to media appearances by Romney and surrogates, and doing a number of conference calls.  The campaign painted Santorum as a big spender, a champion of earmarks, and supporter of big labor.  For its part, the Santorum campaign issued a scattering of attack releases in February, but really ramped up its attacks in the week leading up to Super Tuesday; the campaign focused intensively on Romneycare and mandates.  This listing covers a two-month period starting from when the Romney campaign turned its sights on Santorum right after Nevada.


ROMNEY AND GINGRICH SIDE WITH OBAMA ON THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES THIS ELECTION
 March 9
 BIG LABOR STEPS UP FOR SANTORUM – JUST LIKE HE DID FOR THEM
MASSACHUSETTS GUN OWNER: "VOTING FOR (ROMNEY) WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE" March 9
GINGRICH "STRONGLY ENDORSES THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE" AND GINGRICH "AGREE(S) ENTIRELY WITH GOVERNOR ROMNEY... WE AGREE STRONGLY WITH THIS (INDIVIDUAL MANDATE) PRINCIPLE" March 9
SANTORUM "DREW NEW BLOOD OVER" ROMNEYCARE
 March 8
 SANTORUM AND K STREET: PERFECT TEAMMATES
CNN: "ROMNEY ONCE TOUTED PARTS OF 'ROMNEYCARE' AS NATIONAL MODEL" March 8 LOBBYIST/CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR RICK SANTORUM: THE INSIDER’S INSIDER
O-MITT-ED MATH March 8
ROMNEY BUSTED AGAIN! March 8
JONATHAN CHAIT: "ROMNEY SIMPLY LIES ABOUT WHAT HE ADVOCATED" March 7
CAP AND TAX, ANOTHER ISSUE WHERE ROMNEY IS A TRUTH-LIGHTWEIGHT March 6
VIDEO EMBEDDED: AND THE HITS KEEP COMIN' [Mandates]
 March 5
OH, HOW I LOVE THEE... LET ME COUNT THE WAYS: 1, 2, 3... 15 March 5
MEDIA ALERT: SANTORUM TO HOLD MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TODAY [Mandates] March 5
SANTORUM: "(ROMNEY) DOES NOT HAVE THE VISION, OR RECORD, OR CREDIBILITY... NECESSARY TO REPEAL AND REPLACE OBAMACARE March 4
VIDEO EMBEDDED: MITT ROMNEY ON MANDATES - "THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE PATH WE PURSUED, WILL FIND IT'S THE BEST PATH. AND WE'LL END UP WITH A NATION THAT'S TAKEN A MANDATE APPROACH" March 4
ROMNEY'S MANDATE EXCUSES ARE "UTTERLY UNPERSUASIVE" AND "DOWNRIGHT FIVOLOUS" - ANDREW MCCARTHY, NATIONAL REVIEW March 4
OHIO VOTERS IN ALL 88 COUNTIES REJECTED ROMNEY'S INDIVIDUAL MANDATE March 3
 NOT THE HEADLINES RICK WAS LOOKING FOR

March 3
 [ICYMI] REP. MIKE TURNER: RICK SANTORUM’S “HALF-HEARTED ATTEMPT TO REPRESENT OHIO”
FLASHBACK: MITT ROMNEY CALLED ON OBAMA TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD ON MANDATING HEALTH CARE March 2
 SANTORUM MISLEADS ON LOBBYING RECORD
BREAKING - VIDEO LINK: ABC NEWS UNCOVERS EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF MITT ROMNEY BRAGGING ABOUT HIS WASHINGTON INSIDER CONNECTIONS TO GET EARMARKS March 2
MITT ROMNEY'S FIRST REACTION TO SAY HE'S OPPOSED TO A BILL THAT PROTECTS RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS - KNOWING ROMNEY'S RECORD, IT'S TROUBLING Feb. 29
 [ICYMI] IDAHO SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TOM LUNA: RICK SANTORUM’S “DISGRACEFUL” TACTICS SHOW WHICH TEAM HE’S REALLY ON
MITT ROMNEY SAYS STOP TALKING TO DEMOCRATS - MITT ROMNEY SHOULD STOP BEING A DEMOCRAT Feb. 29
 ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES NEW WEB VIDEO: "LIBERAL DEMOCRATS FOR SANTORUM"

Feb. 29
 Media Advisory: Republicans Call On Rick Santorum To Stop Teaming Up With Democrats

Feb. 28 MITT ROMNEY: RICK SANTORUM TEAMING UP WITH OBAMA AND BIG UNIONS

Feb. 27
 SANTORUM TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM ON EARMARKS

Feb. 25
 RICK SANTORUM: ABANDONING HIS PRINCIPLES FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL ADVANTAGE

Feb. 25
 Research Briefing: ROMNEY VS. SANTORUM: CHEERS AND JEERS
MITT ROMNEY'S "TAXACHUSETTS" ECONOMIC POLICIES Feb. 24
 ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES NEW WEB VIDEO: "COURAGE?"
"RESOLUTE" ROMNEY BREAKS TAX PLEDGE Feb. 24
 CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR SANTORUM: PROUD MEMBER OF THE WASHINGTON “TEAM”

Feb. 24
 SANTORUM’S DEFICIT-DOUBLING, WINNER-PICKING, BIG-GOVERNMENT TAX PLAN

Feb. 24
 [ICYMI] SEN. ARLEN SPECTER: SANTORUM AND I NEVER MADE A DEAL ON JUDGES

Feb. 24
 ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES NEW WEB VIDEO: “ARLEN AND RICK”
ROMNEY ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED TAXPAYER FUNDED LOANS FOR A PLANNED PARENTHOOD BUILDING Feb. 23
 WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT RICK SANTORUM’S DEBATE PERFORMANCE
AMERICAN SPECTATOR: ROMNEY "LIED" Feb. 23
 NOW BATTING FOR TEAM SPECTER: RICK SANTORUM
***NEW TV AD - VIDEO EMBEDDED*** NEW SANTORUM TELEVISION AD USES ROMNEY'S OWN WORDS TO DESCRIBE ROMNEY'S RECORD... SINCE ROMNEY SURE NEVER TALKS ABOUT IT Feb. 23
 “IT WAS AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES I BELIEVED IN, BUT… SOMETIMES YOU TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM”

Feb. 22
 SANTORUM: “ARLEN IS WITH US ON THE VOTES THAT MATTER”

Feb. 22
 SANTORUM’S REPEATED AND DISCREDITED FALSEHOODS ON HEALTH CARE

Feb. 22
 SANTORUM NEVER SUPPORTED A BAILOUT? NOT SO FAST…

Feb. 22
 SANTORUM AND EARMARKS: A LOVE STORY

Feb. 22
 NEVER A TAX INCREASE FOR SANTORUM? NOT SO FAST…

Feb. 22
 CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR SANTORUM: HE DID EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID HE WOULDN’T

Feb. 22
 SANTORUM AND GINGRICH: EVEN MORE IN COMMON THAN YOU THOUGHT
ON YET ANOTHER ISSUE, MITT ROMNEY JOINED BARACK OBAMA - THIS TIME TO SUPPORT JOB CRUSHING CAP AND TAX LEGISLATION Feb. 21
 [ICYMI] MITT ROMNEY: RICK SANTORUM DOESN’T HAVE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE TRACK RECORD

Feb. 21
 MITT ROMNEY: RICK SANTORUM DOESN’T HAVE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE TRACK RECORD

Feb. 21
 IF YOU LIKED NEWT GINGRICH, WAIT ‘TIL YOU GET TO KNOW RICK SANTORUM

Feb. 20
 A CLOSER LOOK AT CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR SANTORUM’S RECORD

Feb. 20
 MEET CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR RICK SANTORUM
HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF MITT'S FEDERAL BAILOUT! Feb. 18

Feb. 17
 GOV. JOHN SUNUNU: SEN. SANTORUM HAS OPPOSED CONSERVATIVE CAUSES OVER AND OVER

Feb. 17
 UPDATED TIME: Media Advisory: Romney Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Why Rick Santorum's Record Is Wrong For Ohio

Feb. 17
 UPDATED: Media Advisory: Romney Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Why Rick Santorum's Record Is Wrong For Ohio

Feb. 17
 RICK SANTORUM: RIGHT FOR BIG LABOR, WRONG FOR OHIO VOTERS

Feb. 17
 Reminder: Media Advisory: Romney Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Why Rick Santorum's Record Is Wrong For Ohio

Feb. 16
 Media Advisory: Romney Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Why Rick Santorum's Record Is Wrong For Ohio

Feb. 16
 POLITIFACT: SANTORUM CLAIMS ABOUT ROMNEY RECORD ON CAP-AND-TRADE ARE “FALSE”

Feb. 16
 ON SPENDING, ROMNEY WILL MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICES THAT SANTORUM WOULD NOT

Feb. 16
 Reminder: Media Advisory: Romney Michigan Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Rick Santorum's Unapologetic Defense Of Big Labor And Big Spending

Feb. 16
 Media Advisory: Romney Michigan Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Rick Santorum's Unapologetic Defense Of Big Labor And Big Spending
MANY ON THE RIGHT REJECT MITT'S "JUVENILE" MUDSLINGING AND HIS WELL-FUNDED DC ATTACK MACHINE Feb. 15
 RICK SANTORUM: BIG LABOR’S FAVORITE SENATOR
VIDEO EMBEDDED: MITT'S MUDSLINGING CONTINUES TO BACKFIRE Feb. 15
 Reminder: Media Advisory: Romney Michigan Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Rick Santorum's Record of Increasing Government Spending and Earmarks

Feb. 14
 Media Advisory: Romney Michigan Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Rick Santorum's Record of Increasing Government Spending and Earmarks

Feb. 14
 Reminder: Media Advisory: Romney's Missouri Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Romney vs. Santorum Record On Spending
 

Feb. 13
 Media Advisory: Romney's Missouri Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Romney vs. Santorum Record On Spending
ICYMI: "ROMNEY CAMPAIGN'S REPUTATION FOR DESTROY, NOT CREATING. ANY NOBODY LOVES A DEATH STAR." - PEGGY NOONAN, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Feb. 11

Feb. 10
 [ICYMI] MITT ROMNEY: SENATOR SANTORUM GREW GOVERNMENT; I BALANCED THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR AS GOVERNOR

Feb. 10
 ON SPENDING AND DEBT, SANTORUM WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM

Feb. 9
 A QUESTION FOR SENATOR SANTORUM: Are These "Good" Earmarks Or "Bad" Earmarks?

Feb. 9
 Reminder: Media Advisory: Romney Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Rick Santorum's Long Record On Borrowing, Spending, And Earmarking

Feb. 9
 WILL ROGERS ON RICK SANTORUM: HE NEVER MET AN EARMARK HE DIDN’T LIKE

Feb. 8
 [ICYMI] CONGRESSMAN JASON CHAFFETZ: RICK SANTORUM HAS A RECORD OF “MORE SPENDING, MORE EARMARKS, THE RAISING OF THE DEBT CEILING”

Feb. 8
 Media Advisory: Romney Campaign To Hold Conference Call On Rick Santorum’s Long Record On Borrowing, Spending, And Earmarking

Feb. 8
 [Research Briefing] SANTORUM: WASHINGTON’S BEING MANAGED JUST FINE

Feb. 8
 [Research Briefing] ON EARMARKS, NEWT OPENED THE DOOR AND SANTORUM WALKED RIGHT THROUGH IT
FLASHBACK: "I'D BE EMBARRASSED IF I DIDN'T ALWAYS ASK FOR FEDERAL MONEY WHENEVER I GOT THE CHANCE." - MITT ROMNEY
 Feb. 6
 [ICYMI] GOV. TIM PAWLENTY: RICK SANTORUM IS "A CHAMPION OF EARMARKS"
MITT ROMNEY: PROUD DEFENDER AND AUTHOR OF "OBAMNEYCARE" Feb. 6
 [Research Briefing] FROM THE ARCHIVES: SANTORUM IN 2008

Feb. 6
 GOV. TIM PAWLENTY: RICK SANTORUM IS AN ARDENT DEFENDER OF PORK-BARREL SPENDING

Feb. 6
 [Research Briefing] A SUMMARY OF SANTORUM’S FALSE ATTACKS ON MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH CARE

Feb. 5
 [Research Briefing] RICK SANTORUM: PROUD DEFENDER OF EARMARKS AND PORK-BARREL SPENDING



Romney for President graphic used on top of anti-Santorum press releases.


The campaign also used this graphic, based on a Santorum line in the Feb. 22 debate, a few times.