GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich says rival Rick Santorum should take a look at the poll numbers, which show Gingrich beating him, and drop out.
"The longer conservatives stay split, the harder it's going to be for us to [beat Romney]," Gingrich said on FOX and Friends on Tuesday. “And I think that we risk not being able to beat Obama unless we get a conservative. I have to win the nomination."
Santorum is sapping conservative votes from Gingrich, the former House speaker said. Santorum, appearing just moments after Gingrich, countered.
“I don't think either one of them are the right choice,” Santorum said, referring to Gingrich and front-runner Mitt Romney. “And if you want to look at the real conservative, we're the real conservative that can win.”
Santorum touted his victory in Iowa as an advantage he still holds over both candidates.
“Neither Governor Romney nor Newt Gingrich had run as a conservative in a state we had to win. .... I've done it,” Santorum said.
But he did not suggest that Gingrich should drop out of the race.
“My message is everybody should run, whoever wants to run and be in this race. I don't think people should be telling other folks to ‘get out of the race and get out of my way,’” Santorum said.
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