Decision 2012: Obama Campaign Criticizes Santorum For Remarks On President's Christianity
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President Barack Obama's campaign is lashing out at former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for a comment about the president's Christian values.
During a campaign stop in Ohio on Saturday, Santorum said the president's agenda is tied to a "phony theology" not based on the Bible.
Santorum clarified the comments on CBS' "Face The Nation," while the president's advisor Robert Gibbs came out swinging on ABC's "This Week."
"I can't help but think those remarks are well over the line. It's wrong, it's destructive, it makes it virtually impossible to solve the problems that we all face as Americans," said Gibbs.
"I've repeatedly said I believe the president's Christian, he says he's Christian, but I am talking about his worldview, the way he approaches problems in this country. And I think they are different than how most people do in America," said Santorum.
Gibbs' comment suggests the Obama campaign is taking Santorum more seriously as a potential challenger in the general election.
The other candidates are focusing much of their attention on the next primary state of Michigan.
According to a poll by the Detroit News and TV station WDIV, the February 28 race is a tight one between Santorum and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
Santorum leads by 4 percent, but that is within the margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is polling a distant third, followed by Congressman Ron Paul.
On CNN's "State Of The Union," Paul said he is focused on the total number of delegates.
"The bottom line is, who is going to get the delegates, and we think we're doing pretty good," said Paul. "Those others who are at the top now, doesn't mean they're going to stay there, not the way this campaign's been going."
Gingrich told "Fox News Sunday" that a Michigan loss could greatly damage Romney's campaign.
"If he loses his home state — and I assume that they're going to throw the kitchen sink at Santorum 'cause that's the Romney style — if they lose his home state, I don't see what he says the next morning to his donors to stay in the race," said Gingrich.
After Michigan, the campaign shifts to Washington's caucuses on March 3, followed by Super Tuesday on March 6.