Obama Campaign Takes On Santorum: ‘Phony Theology’ Comment ‘Over The Line’ [View all]

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http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/obama-campaign-santorums-phony-theology-comment-over-the-line.php

Obama Campaign Takes On Santorum: ‘Phony Theology’ Comment ‘Over The Line’

Pema Levy February 19, 2012, 1:45 PM 8899 199



Since the campaign began, President Obama’s reelection team has directed virtually all of its attention toward Mitt Romney. But over the weekend, Rick Santorum’s explosive comments about the President’s “theology” got the attention of his top campaign advisers. For the first time, Obama’s campaign is pushing back on Santorum’s statements, and the surging GOP candidate is struggling to explain them.

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But the neither explanation assuaged the Obama campaign. “This is just the latest low in a Republican primary campaign that has been fueled by distortions, ugliness, and searing pessimism and negativity - a stark contrast with the President who is focused everyday on creating jobs and restoring economic security for the middle class,” said a campaign spokesman Saturday.

Robert Gibbs, Obama’s top campaign adviser, also weighed in on Sunday. On ABC’s This Week, Gibbs said the remarks were “well over the line” and are indicative of a larger trend on the other side of the aisle: “I think this GOP primary is, in many cases, Jake, has been a race to the bottom. We have seen nastiness, divisiveness, ugliness, distortions of opponents’ records, of the president’s records.”

The Obama campaign is taking note of the rising candidate, but their rebukes are aimed not just at Santorum. Instead, they paint his comments into a larger picture of the GOP primary as negative and beyond the mainstream.