February 23, 2012 1:10 AM EST
(Reuters) - Rivals piled criticism on U.S. presidential candidate Rick Santorum at a testy debate on Wednesday, attempting to blunt his surprise surge at a pivotal period in the Republican race.
Looking to build on a late rise in polls, Santorum instead went though an uncomfortable two hours fending off criticism of his Senate record, in his first appearance at center stage of the debates which have defined the Republican campaign.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney joined forces with libertarian Congressman Ron Paul in questioning Santorum's conservative credentials. Paul was asked at the CNN-sponsored debate why his campaign had run a television ad calling Santorum a fake.
"Because he's a fake," Paul said bluntly.
Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, often complained earlier in the campaign that he was ignored by moderators in debates. He might have missed an opportunity on Thursday to solidify his lead in many polls.
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All eyes are now on Santorum's battle with long-term frontrunner Romney. They are competing fiercely in the February 28 Michigan and Arizona primaries that will set the stage for the crucial March 6 "Super Tuesday" contest, when 10 states vote.
Romney, his candidacy potentially at stake, went after his chief rival repeatedly. He said Santorum voted to raise the debt ceiling and supported "earmarks," the much-ridiculed pet spending projects that members of Congress often slip into appropriations legislation.
Many Republicans would like to ban earmarks spending to help close the budget deficit.
Romney pointed out Santorum had supported a much-derided $400 million "bridge to nowhere" project in Alaska that was eventually abandoned. Santorum shot back that Romney had sought earmarks to pay for security at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
"When I was fighting for the Olympics, you were fighting for the 'bridge to nowhere,'" Romney told Santorum.
Santorum insisted earmarks have their place.
"You don't know what you're talking about," he snapped back at Romney.
TEMPERS FLARE
The debate was the 21st of the 2012 election cycle for Republicans and possibly the last, giving the proceedings a dose of tension.
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