Here’s an exchange many considered to be likely in the Republican debate in South Carolina on Monday night — former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum hit former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on felons’ right to vote. The issue at hand is the idea that once convicted felons have served their time meet other conditions they can again vote. An ad from a pro-Romney super PAC went after Santorum for essentially being soft on the issue and supporting that view.
“I would ask Governor Romney, do you believe people who were felons who served their time, who have extended, exhausted their parole and probation, should they be given the right to vote?” Santorum asked Romney directly at the debate.
When Romney demurred, saying that he doesn’t control the ads that a super PAC supporting him runs, Santorum said “This is Martin Luther King Day. This is a huge deal in the African-American community because we have very high rates of incarceration, disproportionate high rates, particularly with drug crimes in the African-American community.”
When Santorum again asked Romney what his position was, Romney said “I don’t think who have violent crimes should be allowed to vote. That’s my own view.”
