Santorum argues own case

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum appeared outside the Supreme Court on Monday as the justices heard arguments over whether President Barack Obama’s overhaul of the U.S. health-care system is constitutional.

Santorum pressed his own argument that he’s the best candidate — and rival Mitt Romney is the worst — to challenge Obama on the health-care issue in the fall.

“There’s one candidate who’s uniquely disqualified to make the case. That’s the reason I’m here and he’s not,” Santorum told reporters outside the Supreme Court as protesters behind him chanted, “Health care is a right.”

While Romney says he would fight to repeal Obama’s health-care law, Santorum says Romney essentially is disqualified because he put in place a similar law in Massachusetts when he was governor, including a requirement that all residents buy health insurance.

“This was a disaster in Massachusetts,” Santorum said.

Public polls, however, suggest that the vast majority of Massachusetts residents support the state health care system, which Romney signed into law in 2006.

Ryan Williams, a Romney spokesman, dismissed the comments as coming from a candidate who “is becoming increasingly shrill as his campaign hopes fade.”