Santorum, Romney spar before Minn. (Politico)

ROCHESTER, Minn. - With Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum locked in a tight race here, the two are battling for the upper hand on health care.

One day before the Minnesota caucuses, the former Pennsylvania senator argued that Romney?s support for an individual mandate as part of his Massachusetts health-care plan could cost Republicans the general election if the ex-governor becomes the GOP nominee.

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Santorum hits Mitt on reform

In turn, the former Massachusetts governor ? who is skipping Minnesota pre-primary ? jabbed Santorum, saying he incorrectly characterized the Massachusetts law. It also planned a conference call with Romney?s chief surrogate in Minnesota, ex-presidential rival and former governor Tim Pawlenty, attacking the ex-senator?s record on earmarks.

?Gov. Romney is absolutely incapable of making the case against ?Obamacare? successfully and therefore greatly damages our ability to be able to win this election, this very critical election in 2012,? Santorum said in a hotel across the street from the Mayo Clinic.

Santorum, who frequently cites the federal health-care law as a key reason for launching his presidential bid, said that Romney could make only a ?weak argument? because the federal health-care law is a ?copy? of Romney?s law in Massachusetts. He called Romney the ?worst possible person in this field to put out on this most fundamental issue of this campaign.?

?The fundamental problem with ?Romneycare? and ?Obamacare? is it dealt with access not cost. It didn?t deal with anything to reduce the cost of the health-care system. In fact, it put in things that we know will increase cost,? Santorum said, ticking through a long list of complaints about the two programs.

Romney, he concluded, is ?simply dead wrong on the most important issue of the day and should not be the nominee of our party.?

Santorum and Romney are sparring as a new poll showed Santorum slightly leading the ex-governor in Minnesota. Speaking with reporters following the speech, Santorum said Romney was going negative because he felt threatened.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0212_72502_html/44435292/SIG=11mj349q7/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72502.html

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