Santorum Says Long Primary Good For GOP

(Image Credit: Eric Gay/AP Photo)

APPLETON, Wis. - Rick Santorum today bucked the Republican establishment's view that a long nominating contest would hurt the party, insisting to reporters an extended race could benefit the GOP.

"In this primary, the longer it goes the better it is for the party," Santorum told reporters during a media avail at  Simon's Specialty Cheese shop. "The longer we're in this and I would argue even if it ends up in a convention, that's a positive thing for the Republican Party, that's a positive thing for activating and energizing our folks heading into this fall election."

Santorum argued that if the race goes until the convention "it would be the first convention of its kind" and would not be a typical brokered convention.

"People even say going to the convention would be dangerous. No. It would be the first convention of its kind which would not be a brokered convention," Santorum said. "This idea that it's a brokered convention - you get the sense that there are all these power players that control all these delegates."

"I think it would be a fascinating display of open democracy and I think it would be an energizing thing for our party," he added.  "I honestly sincerely believe that the best thing we could do is number one get the best candidate, let this process work."

Santorum said that if he thought that prolonging the race was detrimental to a win in November, " I may take a different course."   Santorum said the nominating process has proved to be "weak" for Mitt Romney, who Santorum claims can only win when he pours millions of dollars into negative campaigning.

"The only way that Governor Romney has been successful in winning any primaries is by just bludgeoning his opponents by an overwhelming money advantage, something that he's not going to have in the general election, so now I think what this primary has really displayed is the weakness of obviously Governor Romney and his ability to connect and communicate and effectively paint a vision," Santorum said.

The former Pennsylvania senator remained adamant he would maintain his lead in Pennsylvania, calling polls that show his lead over Romney shrinking "ridiculous."