Santorum: convention floor fight would 'energize'

[April 03, 2012]  APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- Rick Santorum says a fight at the GOP convention over the party's presidential nominee would be "energizing" for the party.

Campaigning in Wisconsin Monday, Santorum pressed his argument that front-runner Mitt Romney isn't the strongest Republican to go up against President Barack Obama in the fall.

The former Pennsylvania senator says a convention floor fight over which candidate should be Obama's general election opponent would be a "fascinating display of open democracy" and would encourage more Republican voters to participate.

Santorum is far behind Romney in the race for the convention delegates who will choose the nominee. He has acknowledged having little chance of winning the needed 1,144 delegates but notes Romney doesn't have them yet either.

Romney is favored to win Wisconsin's GOP primary Tuesday.

[Associated Press; By BETH FOUHY]

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