CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum finally said what many GOP voters have been thinking.
At Thursday night’s debate, Santorum said that the problem with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich becoming the GOP nominee for president is that Republicans would have to constantly worry about what would come out of his mouth next.
“Grandiosity has never been a problem with Newt Gingrich,” said Santorum. “He handles it very, very well. A month ago, he was saying, ‘Oh, it’s inevitable I’m going to win the election. I’m destined to do it.’”
“I don’t want a nominee that I tonight have to worry about going out and, looking at the paper the next day, and worrying about what he’s going to say next,” Santorum said.
“These are not cogent thoughts,” Santorum said of Gingrich’s past calls for him to leave the race. “Let’s just be honest. Newt’s a friend. I love him. At times [I have] sort of that, you know, worrisome moment that something’s going to pop, and we can’t afford that in a nominee.
“I’m not the most flamboyant. I don’t get the biggest applause lines here. But I’m steady. I’m solid. I’m not going to go out and do things that you’re going to worry about.”
“I think grandiose thoughts,” Gingrich responded, outlining his record in Congress and citing his work with former president Ronald Reagan. “This is a grandiose country of big people doing big things. We need leadership prepared to take on big projects.”
“I will give Newt Gingrich his due on grandiose ideas and grandiose projects,” Santorum shot back. “I will not give him his due on executing those projects, which is exactly what the president of the United States is supposed to do.”
Santorum described Gingrich’s tenure as Speaker of the House as chaotic. “It was an idea a minute. No discipline. No ability to be able to pull things together,” he said.