Republican During a cable news appearance earlier today, Senator Rick Santorum defended a new campaign commercial which combines images of his Democratic challenger Bob Casey, "Axis of Evil" leaders and mushroom clouds.
"You've had some really aggressive ads," MSNBC's Rita Crosby said to the Pennsylvania senator, who is trailing Casey by 12 percent in the latest MSNBC-McClatchy poll.
Cosby said that "a lot of jaws dropped" at the mushroom cloud ad, which she then showed a clip from.
"North Korea, close to a nuclear missile to reach America," a narrator says in the ad. "Yet Casey opposes deploying a missile defense system now."
"Iran, also close," the narrator continues, as images of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Santorum's Democratic opponent surround footage of a nuclear explosion. "Yet Casey opposes creating the bunker-busting bombs that may be needed to stop them."
Cosby asked Santorum why the ad resorted to such "severe measures."
"Well, I don't think it's severe measures," Santorum responded. "I mean, the fact is, North Korea has a nuclear weapon."
"They are developing a missile to try -- they already have missiles that can reach Alaska, and they're -- and developing missiles to do -- to go further," Santorum continued.
"And what I'm saying is that we should develop a missile defense system to protect ourselves and our allies and our forces that are deployed," said Santorum. "And my opponent's against that."
Cosby countered that Casey has denied that he's "against that."
"Well, look, he -- I don't think he has said he's against that," Santorum insisted. "He questions the bunker-busting bomb, but on missile defense, he has been very clear."
"He is not for deploying a missile defense system," Santorum continued. "And he's got a couple of websites out there raising money, saying that Bob Casey filled out a questionnaire saying he was against nuclear bunker-busting bombs being developed and deployed."
"He says that, you know, he's given sort of shady answers as to what he really thinks about that, but I can tell you, the websites are still active, and they're still raising money and the questionnaires are there," Santorum added.
But Casey has publicly stated that he favors continuing research to determine the missile defense system's viability, and that he supports non-nuclear bunker-busting bombs.
"That's more of the fiction that Rick Santorum has been spreading," Casey said during their final debate on Monday in regards to the Pennsylvania Senator's claims. "What the senator said isn't true."
Video clip of Santorum's ad:
Excerpts from interview:
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MS. COSBY: You've had some really aggressive ads.
SEN. SANTORUM: Yeah.
MS. COSBY: In fact, let me show a little clip. This is the mushroom cloud ad that a lot of jaws dropped -- just a little clip, and I'll get you to talk about it.
SEN. SANTORUM: Sure.
NARRATOR: (From videotape.) North Korea, close to a nuclear missile to reach America. Yet Casey opposes deploying a missile defense system now.
Iran, also close. Yet Casey opposes creating the bunker-busting bombs that may be needed to stop them.
MS. COSBY: Why did it go to such severe measures for an ad?
SEN. SANTORUM: Well, I don't think it's severe measures. I mean, the fact is, North Korea has a nuclear weapon. They are developing a missile to try -- they already have missiles that can reach Alaska, and they're -- and developing missiles to do -- to go further. And what I'm saying is that we should develop a missile defense system to protect ourselves and our allies and our forces that are deployed. And my opponent's against that.
MS. COSBY: But your opponent denies that he's against that. He says he supports that. And are you sort of riding the Bush message of taxes and terrorism is what's going to win?
SEN. SANTORUM: Well, look, he -- I don't think he has said he's against that. He questions the bunker-busting bomb, but on missile defense, he has been very clear. He is not for deploying a missile defense system. And he's got a couple of websites out there raising money, saying that Bob Casey filled out a questionnaire saying he was against nuclear bunker-busting bombs being developed and deployed. He says that, you know, he's given sort of shady answers as to what he really thinks about that, but I can tell you, the websites are still active, and they're still raising money and the questionnaires are there.
So, you know, if he's going to flip on that, then fine, admit that he at one time was not for bunker-busting -- development of those bombs and now he's changed his mind. But he hasn't done that. I mean, and this is a guy, I got to tell you, Rita, who is on both sides of every issue that's out there. I mean, he's just trying to be the brand X candidate, and as soon as you challenge him on an issue that looks like he's on the wrong side of, he'll just jump on the other side and try to muddy the issue.
This is not a guy that you want in office at a time when our country is in this threat, and that's the whole point of this ad. This is not a man who understands the issues, who's willing to stand up and fight against the enemies that are out there or even take positions against the enemies that are out there.
MS. COSBY: You know, the RNC has confirmed that it's pulling ads for Mike DeWine in Ohio. Are you worried -- I mean, is -- are you still getting the support of the Republican party? Because he's trailing big-time.
SEN. SANTORUM: Yeah, absolutely. We've gotten a tremendous -- probably almost $5 million worth of support from the RNC and the --
MS. COSBY: Will they continue to support you? Do you think --
SEN. SANTORUM: Oh, they do. In fact, you know, we anticipate some additional money coming in for some of our programs here in the next few days.
MS. COSBY: You going to get any sleep between now and Election Day?
SEN. SANTORUM: What's that word?
MS. COSBY: Are you going to get any sleep at all? (Laughs.)
SEN. SANTORUM: "Sleep"? I am not familiar with that word. What's the word "sleep"? Can you define that for me? (Laughs.)
MS. COSBY: I don't know too much of it, either. Well, are you going to get any rest between now and then?
SEN. SANTORUM: No, we're going strong. I mean, my opponent's doing two campaign events a week. I repeat that -- two a week. I'm just running full-tilt. You know, I know I have to earn this job every six years, and not just every six years, every day during the six years.
And, you know, my opponent has a very famous name. His father was the governor, and he's won elections because of the last name, and he thinks that's going to win him this one and I think the people of Pennsylvania are going to give him a little surprise on Election Day.
MS. COSBY: Well, sleepless Rick Santorum, thank you. We wish you lots of luck, Senator. Thank you.
Republican During a cable news appearance earlier today, Senator Rick Santorum defended a new campaign commercial which combines images of his Democratic challenger Bob Casey, "Axis of Evil" leaders and mushroom clouds.