A new ad by a pro-Rick Santorum super-PAC contends that Mitt Romney can't win the presidency because he's too similar to President Obama.
The Red, White and Blue Fund released the ad, which is set to air in Michigan on Wednesday.
"How can Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama when on the vital decisions they’re not much different? Like Obama, Romney drastically increased spending," the voiceover in the ad says. "Increased state taxes and fees. Even worse, RomneyCare is the blueprint for ObamaCare. Who can win? Rick Santorum."
The ad goes on to argue that Santorum is a "principled leader who's fought against big government." Over the past week or so, Romney has been accusing Santorum of voting for "wasteful" earmark and government spending. Describing Santorum as anti-big government is likely pushback against those attacks.
"On issues that matter to both Republican primary voters and to general-election voters Santorum stacks up as the better candidate," Red, White and Blue spokesman Stuart Roy said in a statement. "As dramatic as the difference is between Santorum and Romney, unfortunately, the opposite is true of the difference between Romney and Obama.”
The buy for the ad is $600,000, according to the super-PAC, bringing total money spent by Red, White and Blue to about $1.3 million in the Wolverine State.
Recent polling shows Santorum and Romney virtually tied in Michigan. Santorum is hoping to win the state, which would deliver a severe blow to Romney as he grew up in Michigan and won it during the 2008 GOP primary. Additionally, his father served as governor of the state.
The ad comes the same day that Romney received the endorsement of the
Detroit News.
