AP Interview: Santorum says he wants role in GOP’s future, hasn’t decided on presidential run

Santorum says he wants role in GOP’s future

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum argued Thursday that only a sharply conservative Republican message can “stem the tide” of change President Barack Obama is seeking in Washington, and he wants to play a role in that debate.

During a visit to Iowa, where precinct caucuses start the presidential nominating process, Santorum said he hasn’t decided whether he will seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012, but he’s considering a return to politics. Santorum lost his Senate re-election bid by a large margin in 2006.

He was in Iowa at the invitation of the American Future Fund for a speech Thursday night in Dubuque.

“One of the reasons I accepted the invitation is I want a role in where this party is going, where this country is going,” Santorum said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Whether it’s a role in a political fashion, whether it’s a role as a commentator or a role as a party leader, I don’t know and it’s not important to me.”

Santorum offered his conservative message first at a gathering of about 50 anti-abortion activists at a training session in suburban Des Moines. Later in the day he was scheduled to speak at the Dubuque event.

Since losing his Senate seat, Santorum has become a political commentator and written books, keeping his profile high with conservative activists who play an important role in GOP politics.

Before his first appearance Thursday, he met privately with Kim Lehman, an anti-abortion activist who also sits on the Republican National Committee.

Santorum said his efforts were designed to shape a Republican message that contrasts sharply with Obama’s agenda.

“What’s important to me right now is we have a message out there in 2009 that can stem the tide of what Obama is trying to accomplish on Capitol Hill,” he said.

Whether that effort will take him to the White House remains to be seen, Santorum said.

“That’s way too far away, and I’ve got a lot of concerns that weigh on me beyond politics to make that decision,” he said.

There’s a debate within the Republican Party about how to recover from two elections that have been sour for conservatives. Some contend the party needs to find ways to appeal to moderates and independents.

Party conservatives, including Santorum, reject that argument, saying Republicans failed because they strayed from their conservative core.

“We didn’t govern well,” said Santorum. “Conservatism didn’t fail, but conservatives failed conservatism. We got away from what Republicanism, what conservatism was all about. We paid a price for that.”

Heading into the midterm elections and probably the next presidential election, the economy will likely be the top issue, and Republicans need a basic theme, Santorum said.

“I would make the argument that this time around it’s going to be the economic issues that are going to be front and center,” he said. “We need to have a platform that lays out a clear message that we support free markets and free people, not government intervention, not government control, not crony capitalism where the government decides who wins and who loses.”

Santorum argued stronger government control of health care will inevitably lead to bureaucrats making decisions about who gets care and who doesn’t. He also sought to rally anti-abortion activists by claiming the health care proposals being debated in Washington could lead to more abortions.

“Congress is not going to put a bill on his desk that does not cover abortions,” Santorum said. “It will be the largest expansion of abortions in our history. The health care debate will be ground zero.”