Santorum reaches out ... to Democrats

A couple of weeks ago, Markos Moulitsas launched "Operation Hilarity" on Daily Kos, urging activists on the left to "take an active role" in the Republican presidential nominating process. As Markos explained, several upcoming primaries and caucuses -- including today's closely-watched contest in Michigan -- are open, meaning Democrats and independents can participate.

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

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The message of "Operation Hilarity," then, was pretty simple: progressive should "head out and cast a vote for Rick Santorum." As the argument went, if Rush Limbaugh and the right can do it, so too can the left.

Santorum doesn't seem to mind the mischief. On the contrary, he's encouraging it.

Here's the audio, as first published by TPM:

The Santorum camp freely acknowledges its role in this push. "If we can get the Reagan Democrats in the primary, we can get them in the general," Santorum spokesperson Hogan Gidley told TPM.

Team Romney is in high dudgeon, calling Santorum's outreach to Democratic voters "outrageous." That's a predictable response, but Romney gave away the high ground on this issue quite a while ago -- Romney personally voted in a Democratic primary in 1992, and insists his vote was part of a ploy to help the GOP face the weakest possible Democratic nominee.

Santorum, in other words, is simply encouraging Michigan voters to do what Mitt Romney has already done.