The Hill News

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) clarified that he did not endorse Rick Santorum even though he voted for the former Pennsylvania senator in Tuesday’s GOP primary.

Tuesday morning, the Santorum campaign blasted out an email touting Bentley’s support, noting that Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) said on a local radio show that Bentley had cast his vote for Santorum.

“He and his wife will be voting for Rick Santorum for president,” Aderholt said, according to a news release from the Santorum campaign.

“I am honored to have Governor Bentley’s support,” Santorum said in the same release. “Governor Bentley is a true public servant who goes to work each day fighting for Alabama and her people.”

But shortly after Santorum’s announcement, Bentley wrote on his Facebook page that his vote was not a public endorsement.

“I view Rick Santorum as the most conservative candidate in the Republican presidential primary,” Bentley wrote. “I have chosen not to publicly endorse a candidate. I believe a vote is a personal decision that should be based on a voter’s values and principles, not on someone else’s opinion. After being asked who I would vote for, I responded that I had personally chosen to vote for Rick Santorum. The Republican primary features a strong pool of candidates, and I will fully support the Republican nominee chosen by the people.”

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