Santorum invokes Katrina in questioning whether Romney would 'blow in the wind'

Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum intensified his attack on rival Mitt Romney during an appearance with Louisiana voters Wednesday, invoking Hurricane Katrina to question whether Mitt Romney would "blow in the wind" during tough times. Santorum's comments came shortly after — and referenced — Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstom saying that the GOP front-runner could reset "like an Etch A Sketch" for the general election.

“The people of Louisiana deserve someone to come down here and tell you what he believes,” Santorum said during a stop in an industrial area outside New Orleans, according to The New York Times. “You folks have had a lot of tough times over the last few years, with Katrina and the oil spill. It’s been a shaky, shaky time, and you folks have stood tall and weathered the storms.”

Santorum pivoted to an attack on Romney, whom he has accused of taking contradictory positions on key issues.

“You need someone who will weather the storm with you and not blow in the wind depending on which way the wind is blowing," Santorum said.

Santorum then referenced Fehrnstrom's comments on CNN, in which, after being asked if Romney had tracked too far to the right during the bruising GOP primary, the senior Romney aide said the general election would provide a chance for a reset.

“It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch — you shake it all up and start over again,” Fehrnstrom said.

The Romney campaign later said the comments simply referred to a change in focus rather than a retreat from Romney's conservative positions.

"As we move from the primary to the general election, the campaign changes. It's a different race, with different candidates, and the main issue now becomes President Obama’s failure to create jobs and get this economy moving," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.

But Santorum seized on the comment to paint contrast with Romney.

“One thing you can say about me — even my staunchest critics say — what you see is what you get,” Santorum said.

The former Pennsylvania senator did not directly address his second-place finish in Tuesday night's Illinois primary, nor did he mention Romney earning the endorsement of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. But he did try to draw a contrast between his campaign and the Republican establishment.

“The establishment has made its choice,” he said. “I think the people of Louisiana will make a different choice," Santorum said.

The Louisiana primary will be held Saturday.

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