Day two of the Santorum in Michigan campaign brings the presidential candidate to East Lansing where he sat down with our own Tim Skubick.
He can't claim a home-state advantage like Michigan native Mitt Romney, but according to recent polls Santorum is edging out Romney as front-runner.
With the primary less than two weeks away, the former Pennsylvania senator is trying to keep that lead.
He's doing better in Michigan than most pundits thought he could do. Rick Santorum has a shot at beating Mitt Romney in the state's presidential primary on February 28.
Appearing on Michigan public TV, Mr. Santorum jumped into the middle east controversy with Iran. If Mr. Santorum was president and Israel wanted to raid the nuclear facilities in Iran, he says Israel would have to do it with the United States help.
"I don't know how Israel on its own would be able to effectively neutralize Iran capacity. They will need the United States and its carrier based missiles," said Santorum.
But he adds he would not put U.S. boots on the ground in that country.
Mr. Santorum accuses Mr. Romney of using some "pretty vicious" TV commercial attacks which are turning off the electorate.
On the issue of being trustworthy, Santorum lumps Mr. Romney with Democrat Barack Obama.
"I think in some regards, they are cut out of the same cloth. They go out and try to win elections by attacking their opponent and telling folks what they want to hear," said Santorum.
On the stump, Mr. Santorum often refers to his religious beliefs. When asked if God told him to run for president Santorum says, "I do feel like I was called to do this."
But after the taping Mr. Santorum said, "God has not called me to be president."
You can watch the remainder of Skubick's interview with Santorum on "Off the Record" Friday on WKAR.
Mitt Romney was campaigning in Ohio Friday and is not scheduled to appear back in Michigan until February 24, four days before the primary
