Rick Santorum: Sorry About Specter!

Nobody wants the first Saturday morning speaking spot — the faces of the people who drag themselves into the CPAC ballroom bear the evidence of Friday night’s happy hours and parties. But former senator Rick Santorum did his best with it, alternating an apology for the Bush years (“we failed”), for TARP, and for his 2004 endorsement in the Pennsylvania Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

“Against the advice of my wife,” said Santorum, “I endorsed Arlen Specter.”

A lusty boo went up from the floor. “My sentiments exactly!” said Santorum. “How many times have I said this in my 20-plus years of marriage? I should have listened to my wife.” He would overcome his mistake, he said, by working “day and night” to elect Pat Toomey to the Senate in 2010.

Santorum sounded more comfortable going after the Obama administration on national security, accusing it — as he does on Fox News on a pretty regular basis — of ignoring the “Islamist” threat. Just look at its latest QDR, its report on national security.

“In that 128-page report,” said Santorum, “not one mention of the word ‘Islam or Muslim.’ But eight pages to global warming as a threat to national security! Do you feel safer?”

In the Q&A, a fan asked Santorum why he wasn’t running against Specter himself. “Because Pat Toomey’s earned it,” said Santorum.