The Hill News

Rick Santorum has a new radio ad attacking Newt Gingrich on his proposal to establish a base on the moon.

According to the Santorum campaign, the ad is set to air nationally.

"Reckless spending has lead to $15 trillion of national debt," the voiceover in the ad says. "And what does Newt Gingrich suggest? Spending half a trillion dollars on a moon colony."

The ad goes on to quote Gingrich saying that, if elected, by the end of his second term in office, the U.S. would "have the first permanent base on the moon."

"Gingrich's example is fiscal insanity," the ad continues.

The ad goes on to argue that Santorum is the most authentic conservative in the GOP presidential field. Recently, Santorum has focused his attacks on Gingrich, seeking to win over conservative Republicans who favor the former speaker. Santorum and Gingrich are fighting to be the conservative alternative to front-runner Mitt Romney.

While camp! aigning in Florida before its primary, Gingrich proposed putting a base on the moon. His suggestion was widely criticized by his opponents.