Click image to see more photos. (Reuters/Darren Hauck)
APPLETON, Wis.—Rick Santorum pushed back against Republicans urging an end to the primary Monday, repeating his call for a drawn-out fight, even all the way to the Republican convention in August.
Speaking to reporters before sampling grilled cheese sandwiches at a Wisconsin cheese shop here, Santorum argued that a prolonged battle would give Republicans the best chance to beat President Barack Obama in November.
"I think it would be a fascinating display of open democracy, and I think it would be an energizing thing for our party to have a candidate emerge who's a—who isn't the blessed candidate of the Republican establishment," Santorum said. "I think that's a good thing, it's a good narrative for us. It makes this election a short election; the shorter this election in the fall, the better off we are, not the worse."
He pointed to the Democratic primary election between now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Obama, which lasted until June and led to a Democratic victory.
"Did that hurt them? No, it didn't hurt them at all," he said. "It kept the Democratic Party engaged, and I think in this primary, the longer it goes the better it is for the party, and people even say going to the convention would be dangerous—no. "
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