Discord Among Conservatives as Romney Picks Up Steam [View all]

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Discord Among Conservatives as Romney Picks Up Steam
Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

Rick Santorum's campaign released its first negative advertisement against Mitt Romney hours before a debate of the presidential candidates in Myrtle Beach.
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: January 16, 2012


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — While Republican moderates on Monday moved to rally around Mitt Romney as their presidential nominee, conservatives showed new signs of fracturing, despite a vote over the weekend by religious leaders to coalesce behind Rick Santorum as an anti-Romney alternative.

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Underscoring the party’s lack of unity, Mr. Santorum’s campaign released its first negative advertisement against Mr. Romney hours before a debate of the presidential candidates here in Myrtle Beach. The ad called Mr. Romney “more liberal than Ted Kennedy on social issues” and said he had inspired President Obama’s health care overhaul.

It highlighted how the battle for South Carolina’s evangelical and conservative voters — who make up 60 percent of the state’s registered Republicans — has boiled down to a two-man contest between Mr. Santorum and Mr. Gingrich. Neither candidate showed any sign that they were considering stepping aside.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/us/politics/discord-among-conservatives-as-romney-picks-up-steam.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss