The candidate says Romney is "the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama," then gets upset when he's asked about it.
As Rick Santorum's chances at the Republican nomination fade, he's taking out his anger on the media.
Sunday afternoon, campaigning in Wisconsin ahead of its April 3 primary, he had this to say: "Why would we put someone up who is uniquely -- pick any other Republican in the country -- he is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama. Why would Wisconsin want to vote for someone like that?" It's a variation on a point he's made before, which is that Obama's health-care reform plan, which ought to be a powerful target for the GOP in 2012, is tough for Romney to attack, since his Massachusetts health plan is the template for it. But Santorum's phrasing -- that Romney is "the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama" -- is more strident than in the past.
So New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny asked Santorum about it after the speech, and the former Pennsylvania senator wasn't happy. He went on a rant against Zeleny, wagging his finger:
What speech did you listen to? Stop lying. I said he was the worst Republican to run on the issue of Obamacare .... Quit distorting my words. If I see it, it's bullshit.
Except that's not what Santorum said, even if it's what he meant. Clearly piqued, he kept berating Zeleny even as he walked away from him. "C'mon man. What are you doing? I'm upset when the media distorts what I say. You knew exactly what I was saying and you misrepresented it. What are you guys in the business of doing? Reporting the truth? Or are you here to try to spin and make news? Stop it."