Santorum challenges Romney in Michigan speech

DETROIT — An aggressive Rick Santorum went after Mitt Romney on multiple fronts Thursday, challenging the Republican front-runner's economic policies, values and consistency in the city of his birth.

Santorum criticized his rival's record on federal bailouts in particular, although both men opposed the government's decision to rescue the auto industry.

"Gov. Romney supported the bailout of Wall Street and decided not to support the bailout of Detroit. My feeling was that the government should not be involved in bailouts period," Santorum said in an address to the Detroit Economic Club, just 23 miles from where Romney went to high school. "I think that's a much more consistent position."

Santorum spoke as Romney campaigned elsewhere in Michigan, ignoring Santorum and two other rivals for the GOP presidential nomination altogether while focusing his criticism on President Barack Obama.

Santorum, who has surged in state and national polls, is showing greater confidence in what should be safe territory for the longtime GOP front-runner. Romney not only grew up in Michigan, he is the son of a former governor. His family members also have been deeply involved in the state's politics for decades.

Despite those inherent advantages, Santorum vowed earlier in the week to "plant our flag" in Michigan, where the presidential primary is Feb. 28. He began to make good on that promise Thursday.

Known for staunch socially conservative views, Santorum outlined an economic policy with a heavy emphasis on family values. He supports additional tax breaks to encourage charitable donations to churches, for example.

"We certainly won't be able to have limited government, lower taxes, if the family continues to disintegrate," he said.

Santorum also linked Obama and Romney, suggesting neither wants to lead the entire country as he would.

"We have a president who says he supports occupiers who divide America between 99 and 1. We have another candidate in this race who suggested that he didn't care about the very poor," Santorum said of Romney. "How about a candidate who cares about 100 percent?"

And while he said he supports economic opportunity for all, Santorum said income inequality is good.

"Why? Because people rise to different levels of success based on what they contribute to society and to the marketplace and that's as it should be," he said.