ATLANTIC, Iowa — Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney threw a couple political punches at rival Rick Santorum on Sunday just as the former Pennsylvania senator gathers momentum heading into the state caucuses.
“Sen. Santorum was kind enough to endorse me last time around,” Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, told a group of reporters after a campaign event in Atlantic, Iowa.
Meanwhile Santorum, whose support is rising in polls, on Sunday defended his 2008 endorsement of Romney.
“I made the political judgment, right or wrong,” Santorum said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I did not think [then-candidate John McCain] was the right person, based on my experience and deep knowledge of his record, that he was the right person to be the nominee.”
Santorum said he thought Romney was the best equipped candidate at the time to beat McCain in the race for the GOP nomination, he said.
In Atlantic, Romney also highlighted Santorum’s 16-year political career in Washington.
“Like [former House] Speaker [Newt] Gingrich, Sen. Santorum has spent his career in the government, in Washington,” he said.
While he did throw Santorum a couple jabs, Romney also wished him luck in the caucuses.
“Sen. Santorum is a good guy, he’s worked hard and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him do well on Tuesday night and I think a good deal of him,” Romney said.
