- During a commercial break at tonight's GOP presidential debate in Detroit, Michigan, Sen. Rick Santorum addressed the CPAC audience on behalf of his preferred candidate, Marco Rubio.

Santorum, the 2012 Iowa Caucus winner, defended Rubio against claims he is too establishment to be conservative.

"Ladies and gentleman, if he is the establishment, conservatives have won," he responded.

"I'm supporting Rubio for one reason: he is a conservative," Santorum said. "If you don’t believe me, believe the American Conservative Union. Because the ACU scores him a 98% rating. That is a conservative rating."

"He is a conservative," Satorum continued. "He’s a winner. He can bring this country together."