Politics

Santorum suggests CPAC straw poll was rigged for Romney [VIDEO]

Jeff Poor Media Reporter
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On Sunday’s “State of the Union” on CNN, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum suggested that it was possibile that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney “rigged” the outcome of Saturday’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) straw poll, in which Romney won 38 percent to 31 percent.

“Well, you know, those straw polls at CPAC, as you know, for years, Ron Paul has won those because he just trucks in a lot of people, pays for their ticket, and they come in and vote and they leave,” Santorum said. “We didn’t do that. We don’t do that. I don’t try to rig straw polls. I know there was some unhappiness at the announcement.”

Host Candy Crowley asked Santorum to elaborate on the “rigged” callegation, and he said CPAC tickets were bought up by the Romney campaign.

“You have to talk to the Romney campaign and how many tickets they buy,” he said. “We’ve heard all sorts of things. But those straw polls … they were important last year when we weren’t voting, but states are voting right now.”

Santorum went on to remind viewers of his electoral success in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado, as well as touting his chances in Michigan and Arizona.

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