GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is questioning what he calls a world view by President Barack Obama that "elevates the Earth above man" and requires insurers to pay for prenatal tests that will encourage more abortions.

The former Pennsylvania senator elaborated Sunday on earlier comments that Obama's agenda is based on "some phony theology, not a theology based on the Bible."

Santorum tells CBS's "Face the Nation" that he wasn't talking about Obama's Christianity, but a "phony ideal" that more natural resources can't be tapped because it would harm the Earth.

Santorum says Obama's health care overhaul encourages abortions because it requires insurance coverage for prenatal tests that can identify problems in the unborn. Santorum says doctors "more often than not" recommend abortion when those problems are discovered.

Obama campaign adviser says Santorum crossed line

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An adviser to President Barack Obama's re-election campaign says GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum went "well over the line" when he questioned Obama's Christian values.

Robert Gibbs tells ABC's "This Week" that it's time "to get rid of this mindset in our politics that, if we disagree, we have to question character and faith."

Gibbs says the country would be better served if presidential candidates focused instead on the economic challenges faced by the middle class.

Santorum said on Saturday that Obama's agenda is tied to "some phony theology" not based on the Bible.

Gibbs' forceful rebuke suggests Obama's campaign is taking Santorum more seriously these days as a potential general election challenger.

Gingrich: Home states must wins for GOP candidates

Newt Gingrich says he and other GOP presidential candidates must win their home-turf contests or face serious questions about continuing in the race.

Gingrich tells "Fox News Sunday" that if Mitt Romney loses in Michigan, which is next to vote on Feb. 28, "I don't see what he says the next morning to his donors to stay in the race."

But Gingrich also acknowledges that he must win in Georgia, which votes on March 6 — and the same is true for Rick Santorum and the Pennsylvania primary in April.

He says lose and risk becoming "a very, very damaged candidate."

But Gingrich stopped short of saying he would drop out if he lost Georgia "given the chaos of this race."

Romney Ariz. Co-chair Steps Down

 

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (L) shakes hands with Republican Mitt Romney
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Mitt Romney is parting ways with his Arizona campaign co-chairman after the politican faced allegations of misconduct.

Pima County Sheriff Paul Babeau stepped down Saturday after a man he'd had a previous relationship with accused Babeau of threatening to deport him if he talked about the nature of their interactions. Babeau is now acknowledging he is gay, but denied the allegations.

Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said the campaign supports his decision.

The allegations against Babeau were first reported by the Phoneix New Times, an alternative weekly magazine.

 

Paul says US `slipping into a fascist system'

 

Ron Paul
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Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul says the U.S. is "slipping into a fascist system" dominated by big government and big businesses.

The Texas congressman held a fiery rally Saturday night across the street from a World War I Memorial, upstaging simultaneous Republican Party banquets being held on both sides of the nearby Missouri and Kansas line.

Paul said the U.S. got off track during the era of President Woodrow Wilson, who led the nation through World War I and unsuccessfully advocated for the nation's involvement in a forerunner of the United Nations.

Although campaign aides were aware, Paul told reporters after his speech that he did not know his rally was coinciding with long-established Republican Party events.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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