Gov. McDonnell takes oblique swipe at Santorum, says daughter never got ‘emotional‘ in Iraq

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) took what appeared to be an oblique swipe at GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, alluding to his comments on women serving in combat positions.

Just minutes before Santorum was scheduled to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, McDonnell spoke of his daughter’s response to coming under enemy attack while serving in Iraq.

“I did get a little bit emotional, but she didn’t,” McDonnell said. “She got the job done.”

Santorum has come under fire this week for warning against letting women serve in combat because they could compromise the mission and become inhibited by their emotions.

“It already happens, of course, with the camaraderie of men in combat, but I think it would be even more unique if women were in combat,” Santorum said Thursday on CNN. “And I think that’s not in the best interests of men, women or the mission.”

McDonnell, whom many in the GOP urged to run for president, has backed Mitt Romney.

Santorum later clarified that he was referring to men’s emotions and that they might feel obligated to protect women serving in combat.

— This post was updated at 11:31 a.m.