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Rick Santorum Bashes Rand Paul's 2016 Aspirations

Rick Santorum Bashes Rand Paul's 2016 Aspirations
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Politics Social Media Editor, HuffPost

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Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) threw cold water on Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) presidential aspirations in a Monday appearance on CNN's "Crossfire."

When asked whether he would vote for Paul in 2016, Santorum said he wouldn't have to face that decision.

"Well, first off, I don't think that will happen because a Republican Party is not a Libertarian Party. It is a conservative party and it will nominate a conservative, not a libertarian," said Santorum.

Paul is the poster boy for the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. Santorum, a social conservative and staunch opponent to libertarianism, insisted Monday that Paul is not his "leader."

"No, he's not my leader, I can tell you that for sure," Santorum said. "His father and I had some disagreements during the last campaign," he added, referring to Rand Paul's father, retired Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), a candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2012.

Santorum ran an unsuccessful campaign in the 2012 presidential election cycle. He was one of the last standing rivals to the Republican Party nominee -- Mitt Romney -- winning support from 11 states. Ultimately, his disorganized campaign cost him the nomination.

"We cannot run the campaign we ran last time if we run this time," Santorum told The Associated Press last month.

Santorum hasn't ruled out a 2016 bid, but was frank with the AP about his hesitation.

"Yeah, I don't know if I can do this. It's just tough," Santorum said.

CORRECTION: Santorum was misrepresented as Romney's last rival. Paul and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were still in the running when Santorum dropped out of the race.

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Rand Paul
Sen. Rand Paul(01 of27)
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NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MARCH 07: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord International Hotel and Conference Center March 7, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The CPAC annual meeting brings together conservative politicians, pundits and their supporters for speeches, panels and classes. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(02 of27)
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NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MARCH 07: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) takes the stage before addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord International Hotel and Conference Center March 7, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The CPAC annual meeting brings together conservative politicians, pundits and their supporters for speeches, panels and classes. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(03 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (C), former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (L) and and Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, departs a press conference in front of U.S. District Court to announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander and FBI Director James Comey. Paul said he filed the lawsuit to stop NSA surveillance of U.S. phone records because Obama has Òpublicly refused to stop a clear and continuing violation of the 4th amendment.Ó (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(04 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (C) holds up a group of cell phones in front of U.S. District Court to announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander and FBI Director James Comey. Paul said he filed the lawsuit to stop NSA surveillance of U.S. phone records because Obama has Òpublicly refused to stop a clear and continuing violation of the 4th amendment. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(05 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) arrives in front of U.S. District Court to announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander and FBI Director James Comey. Paul said he filed the lawsuit to stop NSA surveillance of U.S. phone records because Obama has Òpublicly refused to stop a clear and continuing violation of the 4th amendment.Ó (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(06 of27)
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FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2013 file photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. This is a year of auditioning, positioning, networking and just plain hard work for people who are considering running for president in 2016. You could see them stirring in 2013 as they plugged holes in resumes, took preliminary steps to build potential campaign organizations and made carefully calibrated moves to get better known by Americans generally and key constituencies in particular. Most _ but not all _ are ticking off items on what could be called the presidential prep checklist. And theyve got baggage to deal with. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (credit:AP)
Sen. Rand Paul(07 of27)
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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., talks to media outside the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, after an event hosted by President Barack Obama about the Promise Zones Initiative. The Promise Zone Initiative is part of a plan to create a better bargain for the middle-class by partnering with local communities and businesses to create jobs, increase economic security, expand educational opportunities, increase access to quality, affordable housing and improve public safety. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)
Sen. Rand Paul(08 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 07: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (2nd L) talks to reporters while walking to the Senate chamber to vote on unemployment insurance at the US Capitol January 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Senate voted 60-37 to move forward with a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits for three months. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(09 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (3rd R) talks to reporters after a vote December 17, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The Senate has passed a cloture vote to clear the way for a final vote of the Ryan-Murray Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(10 of27)
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U.S. Sen. Rand Paul speaks at the Detroit Economic Club held at the Motor City Casino, in Detroit, Dec. 6, 2013. Paul, spoke of economic freedom zones. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, Max Ortiz) (credit:AP)
Sen. Rand Paul(11 of27)
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DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 6: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (red tie, third from right) says the Pledge of Allegiance before delivering a speech titled, 'Renewing the Opportunity for Prosperity: Economic Freedom Zones' at the Detroit Economic Club December 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. As part of his plan to help save Detroit, the largest city in U.S. history to go bankrupt, and other economically depressed areas, the Senator will introduce legislation that will create so-called 'economic freedom zones' by lowering taxes in those areas and change the Visa rules to help make it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to immigrate to economically depressed cities. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(12 of27)
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DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 6: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks with the news media after delivering a speech titled, 'Renewing the Opportunity for Prosperity: Economic Freedom Zones' at the Detroit Economic Club December 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. As part of his plan to help save Detroit, the largest city in U.S. history to go bankrupt, and other economically depressed areas, the Senator will introduce legislation that will create so-called 'economic freedom zones' by lowering taxes in those areas and change the Visa rules to help make it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to immigrate to economically depressed cities. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(13 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (L) and former Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Brigadier General (Ret.) David L. McGinnis (R) wait for the beginning of a news conference on military sexual assault November 6, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. A bipartisan group of senators are pushing to create an independent military justice system with the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(14 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) listens during a news conference on military sexual assault November 6, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. A bipartisan group of senators are pushing to create an independent military justice system with the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(15 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks during a hearing before the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee November 6, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The hearing was focused on 'One Year Later: Examining the Ongoing Recovery from Hurricane Sandy.' (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(16 of27)
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FAIRFAX, VA - OCTOBER 28: Holding a 'Big Gulp' while referencing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul speaks at a 'Get out the Vote' rally for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia, October 28, 2013 in Fairfax, Virginia. Cuccinelli is running against Democratic candidate Terry McAullife in a very close race. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(17 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) arrives for a meeting of Senate Republicans on a solution for the pending budget and debt limit impasse at the U.S. Capitol October 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government shutdown is in its sixteenth day as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain gridlocked on funding the federal government and the extending the nation's debt limit. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(18 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) answers questions as he arrives for a meeting of Senate Republicans on a solution for the pending budget and debt limit impasse at the U.S. Capitol October 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government shutdown is in its sixteenth day as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain gridlocked on funding the federal government and the extending the nation's debt limit. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(19 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks at a press conference with House Republicans on proposed greenhouse gas standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency September 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. The EPA standards for new power plants could significantly impact states that produce and use coal as a source of energy. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(20 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 25: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (C) speaks while U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) (L), U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) (2ndL) and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (R), listen during a news conference on Capitol Hill September 25, 2013 in Washington, DC. The bipartisan group of Senators announced new legislation for comprehensive surveillance reform. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(21 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 10: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) (L) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) wait to speak at the 'Exempt America from Obamacare' rally, on Capitol Hill, September 10, 2013 in Washington, DC. Some conservative lawmakers are making a push to try to defund the health care law as part of the debates over the budget and funding the federal government. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(22 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (L) speaks while U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) (C) and John McCain (R-AZ) (R) listen before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote on a resolution on Syria on Capitol Hill September 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to authorize U.S. President Barack Obama to use limited force against Syria after adopting amendments from McCain (R-NV). (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(23 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) talks to reporters after leaving a closed door meeting about Syria at the U.S. Capitol on September 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. Later today Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to to vote on a resolution that would give U.S, President Barack Obama a limited window for a military operation in response to what the U.S. says was the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons against civilians. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(24 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 03: Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) talks to reporters before heading into a members-only classified briefing about Syria at the U.S. Capitol September 3, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Foreign Relations Committee will hear testimony today from Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(25 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 16: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks while U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) listens during a news conference on sexual assault in the military, July 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. U.S. Sen. Gillibrand announced the support of 34 senators that will co-sponsor her proposal to take the decision whether to prosecute sexual assaults out of the hands of the military chain of command. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul(26 of27)
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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., takes questions Monday, July 1, 2013, from about 40 Owensboro Tea Party members at the Logsdon Community Center in Owensboro, Ky. During his remarks Paul said he supports granting more work visas if the border is secured first. (AP Photo/The Messenger-Inquirer, Gary Emord-Netzley) (credit:AP)
Sen. Rand Paul(27 of27)
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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) holds up a few cellular phones as he speaks during a news conference June 13, 2013 at the Capitol Hill Club on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senator Paul was joined by lawmakers and other groups to discuss the National Security Agency's surveillance program. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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