DETROIT — An aggressive Rick Santorum went after Mitt Romney on multiple fronts Thursday, challenging the Republican front-runner's economic policies, values and consistency in the city of his birth.
Santorum criticized his rival's record on federal bailouts in particular, although both men opposed the government's decision to rescue the auto industry.
"Gov. Romney supported the bailout of Wall Street and decided not to support the bailout of Detroit. My feeling was that the government should not be involved in bailouts period," Santorum said in an address to the Detroit Economic Club, just 23 miles from where Romney went to high school.
Santorum spoke as Romney campaigned elsewhere in Michigan, ignoring Santorum and two other rivals for the GOP presidential nomination altogether while focusing his criticism on President Barack Obama.
Santorum, who has surged in state and national polls, is showing greater confidence in what should be safe territory for the longtime GOP front-runner. Romney not only grew up in Michigan, he is the son of a former governor.
Romney did not mention Santorum — or Newt Gingrich or Ron Paul — in two campaign stops, at a business round-table at a steel galvanizing plant in Monroe and in an address to a Chamber of Commerce in suburban Detroit.
Michigan
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Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks during an Economic Club of Detroit luncheon in Detroit on Thursday. The Associated Press/Paul Sancya
Santorum goes after Romney on home turf
Romney, also in home state, keeps focus on Obama
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EPA creates Great Lakes board
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is creating a board to advise federal agencies carrying out two wide-ranging programs to protect the Great Lakes, EPA chief Lisa Jackson said Thursday.
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Cooler temps help firefighters in U.P.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says cooler temperatures have allowed crews to “make significant progress” in their battle against a wildfire that has consumed 21,450 acres in the Upper Peninsula.
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High schools waive sports age limit
High schools in Michigan have voted to allow a waiver of the maximum age for students to participate in interscholastic athletics.
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Candidates make case for election in forum
In her first joint appearance with two Republican election rivals, Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow on Wednesday lamented partisan gridlock and said she had worked with members of both parties to reduce federal spending on agriculture programs.
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Preschooling necessary, say state leaders
Inadequate preschooling is causing Michigan students to fall behind early, making it harder to develop the talented workforce needed for the state to be competitive, business leaders said Wednesday.
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U.P. wildfire destroys 115 structures
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday the wildfires in Luce County's Duck Lake area is 55 percent contained.
Continued ... - May 30, 2012
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Crews work to protect structures in wildfires
Crews worked Tuesday to ensure that no more structures were damaged by a wildfire burning across more than 30 square miles of Michigan's Upper Peninsula as high winds in the forecast threatened to test firefighting efforts, an official said.
Continued ... - May 29, 2012
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U.P. blaze destroys nearly 100 structures
The lost property includes Pike Lake Resort near Pike Lake in Luce County. The Rainbow Lodge at the mouth of the Two Hearted River, one of Ernest Hemingway's favorite streams, was badly damaged.
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Canada pledges $17.5 million in fight against Asian carp
Canada said Monday it will devote $17.5 million to protecting the Great Lakes from Asian carp, including development of an early warning system with U.S. agencies so authorities can react quickly if the invasive species is detected.
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Michigan in Brief: 05/29/2012
Man on the run for a week is captured; 100s turn out for for POW service; Detroit's new CFO takes reins; Twins will stick together at Harvard
Continued ... - May 28, 2012
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Light rain, more aircraft aid wildfire fight
A bit of rain and four more aircraft helped Michigan authorities in their attempts to contain a wildfire that has consumed 31.6 square miles of Upper Peninsula forest and destroyed at least 61 buildings, an official said Sunday.
Continued ... - May 27, 2012
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Rain helps control wildfires
Rain lent a hand Sunday to the 230 crew members battling a wildfire in the eastern part of Michigan’s sparsely populated Upper Peninsula.
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Blaze in the Upper Peninsula continues to rage out of control
A wildfire in Michigan's Upper Peninsula grew by 17 percent to more than 21,000 acres Saturday as officials warned of tough conditions and welcomed help from water-dumping aircraft from the Michigan National Guard.
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500 businesses register to sell fireworks
A new law is sparking fireworks sales — and the Michigan economy.
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Michigan in Brief: 05/27/2012
Body of teen kayaker found; Museums: Military families get in free
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EPA creates Great Lakes board
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