Rick Perry Takes Aim at Rick Santorum in Iowa

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is starting to rise in the polls in Iowa -- leading to Gov. Rick Perry of Texas taking aim at his rival. Perry and Santorum are fighting for conservative votes in the Iowa presidential caucus on Tuesday.

"Senator Santorum's real record is the 'Bridge to Nowhere,' billions in congressional earmarks, federal pork and other financial excesses typical of spendthrift Washington politicians," Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan said in a statement Thursday. "Governor Perry has a plan to overhaul Washington, D.C., and put an end to the congressional earmarks that are part and parcel of the mismanagement and debt Washington has heaped on our citizens."

The Perry team released a radio ad on Thursday slamming Santorum for backing earmarks and pork projects during his time in the Senate.