Santorum fundraising organization opposing Hagel with online and radio ads

Patriot Voices, former Sen. Rick Santorum's (R-Pa.) fundraising organization, is opposing former Sen. Chuck Hagel's (R-Neb.) nomination for secretary of Defense with a series of online and radio ads, according to aides for the former senator.

In addition to the advertising, Santorum is set to announce his opposition to Hagel on Wednesday, two days after President Obama formally nominated the former Nebraska senator to be secretary of Defense. Obama had been rumored to be eyeing Hagel for the job which resulted in new scrutiny over Hagel's foreign policy positions. Santorum opposes Hagel because of his positions on Iran and Israel, according to CNN.

Hagel has been hit for comments he's made about the "Jewish lobby" trying to strong-arm legislators.

On Iran, foreign policy hawks have said Hagel is too soft because of the former senator's opposition to unilateral sanctions on the country. Santorum, who served in the Senate alongside Hagel, by contrast, is a hawk on Iran and in July of 2012 said he favors launching airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Hagel himself has defended his positions saying earlier in the week to the Lincoln Journal Star that there is "not one shred of evidence that I'm anti-Israel, not one [Senate] vote that matters that hurt Israel."

A number of sitting legislators have said they have concerns over Hagel's voting record and could possibly oppose his confirmation. On Wednesday Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) called Hagel's position on Iran a "concern."

"He has not been supportive of action taken by the United States to impose sanctions, he believes that we should move only with the international community, and I believe it's important for the United States to lead in the effort to isolate Iran," Cardin said.

---