Santorum busy making plans for 2012 bid

Asked if he considers himself a Tea Partier, Santorum responded that he compares with the grassroots activists in how he was “on the sidelines politically until the spring and summer of last year,” when President Obama’s stimulus and health-care bills made him feel compelled to speak out. It was then, he said, that he found himself like “the guy from the movie Network who said, ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore.’”

Though he said Palin “plays an incredibly important role in energizing people across America,” Santorum said her entrance in the 2012 contest would not prevent him from getting in. “I’m not making any decisions based on what anyone else is doing,” he said. “I’m going to make decisions based on the three factors I talked about.”

As for the best GOP ideas out there to counter the Obama administration, Santorum spoke fondly of those from Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, “someone who has told me he’s not running for president, doesn’t want to run for president, and just wants to focus on the policy side…who has a very valuable role in setting the markers out there.” He also mentioned Governors — and potential GOP primary opponents — Mitch Daniels of Indiana and Haley Barbour of Mississippi, who Santorum says have seen success working budget issues in their states.

Then Santorum, noting his work on welfare reform and foreign policy, added: “And then you look at hopefully folks like me.”