Santorum scolds Kasich, Bush for not backing Trump

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) on Tuesday scolded some of Donald Trump’s former rivals who have declined to endorse the Republican presidential nominee, saying they render themselves irrelevant by going back on the pledge they made during the GOP primary.

{mosads}”You can’t say a man who’s not going to keep his word is someone that, frankly, should be paid attention to when it comes to how he’s going to vote,” Santorum, himself a two-time presidential candidate, said during an interview on CNN.

Santorum directly addressed Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, both of whom pledged to support the eventual nominee but then reneged when it turned out to be Trump.

“John, you are better that. John was a dear friend in Congress. And I know John Kasich is better than that,” Santorum said.

“Jeb Bush, I would say the same thing to you. You signed a pledge. I would say the same thing to other candidates who have not stepped forward and said ‘I’m gong to support Donald Trump.'”

South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, another former 2016 Republican White House hopeful, has also refused to support Trump, as have former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, as well as 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Santorum questioned the character of those who broke their pledge.

“If you’re out there talking about, well, he has character that’s beneath the dignity of the office, what about that character?” Santorum said.

Kasich voted for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the 2008 nominee, for president instead of casting his ballot for Trump. The Ohio governor voted for the GOP candidates in other contests, according to his spokesman.

Jeb Bush has said in the past he does not plan to vote for Trump or Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.