Santorum: 'We Always Need a Jesus Candidate' to Run for the Presidency

Does America always need a presidential candidate who reflects Jesus' values? According to comments on Thursday, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum believes that such a candidate is a necessity.

Santorum, who formerly served as a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, is campaigning hard on his record as a staunch social conservative. Earlier today, we covered his intense debate with some college students over gay marriage -- only one recent example of his willingness to discuss controversial social issues.

On Thursday evening, Santorum took what many may see as yet another major step in his attempt to solidify himself as the best possible candidate for conservative Christians to vote for.

During a question and answer period after speaking to a crowd of more than 600 people at Windham High School in Windham, New Hampshire, Santorum recapped a conversation he apparently had earlier in the day. ABC News has more:

...Santorum told the audience about a radio interview out of Boston he did earlier today.

According to Santorum, the interviewer said, “We don’t need a Jesus candidate, we need an economic candidate.”

“My answer to that,” Santorum added, "was we always need a Jesus candidate."

“We need someone who believes in something more than themselves and not just the economy,” he added. “When we say, ‘God bless America,’ do we mean it or do we just say it?”

Watch Santorum make these statements, below:

Do you agree -- does America need to have contenders who would be considered "Jesus candidates?"

(H/T: CBS News)