Santorum: “It’s BullS$%T!”

Much is being made of Rick Santorum calling “Bullsh#t!” on a NYT reporter who asked him about his statement that “Romney was the worst Republican in the country.” Santorum berated the reporter for misquoting him and “lying.” Santorum said he was talking about the health care issue and that he didn’t say “Romney was the worst Republican in the country” but that “Romney as the worst Republican in the country to challenge Obama on health care.” The video shows Santorum is right, but will his irritation with the media hurt him?

To a certain extent it doesn’t matter. At this point Santorum needs over 70% of the remaining delegates to win the nomination. It will not happen. In his crushing victory in Louisiana, he’ll only get about 66% of the proportional delegates at stake and he not get margins like that outside of the South. However, his campaign’s effort is pivoting in the same direction as Newt’s–namely, not to win, but to prevent Romney from winning. That’s a more difficult prospect, and an outburst like this might give the impression that he’s cracking under the pressure–losing his cool.

But I’m not so sure.

Santorum has the reputation as a goody-two-shoes. Santorum already has the evangelical vote under wraps and they’re not going to leave him for this. This shows a guy with a real (and under control) temper calling B.S. as he sees it. Who knows? Maybe it will make some give him a second look who’ve had reservations about Romney?

Ultimately though, while seeking to keep Romney from the nomination, Santorum has to keep in mind the ultimate objective. If he seeks to mortally wound Romney’s campaign but fails to keep him from the nomination, Santorum becomes Obama’s best friend.