Is Rick Santorum a 'pork senator'?

On MSNBC's Morning Joe this morning, former Pennsylvania Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell had uncharacteristic praise for GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum. What made Santorum a good senator in Rendell's eyes? Essentially, Rendell said, Santorum brought home the bacon:

"You know, Rick over the course of time, some things he did very well, he was a great -- I hate to say this, he was a great pork Senator," Rendell said, referring to the appropriation of federal government funds for local projects.

Via DC Examiner:

Rendell certainly isn't the first antagonist to point out Santorum's history of earmarking funds for Pennsylvania. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has criticized Santorum as an "ardent defender" of pork-barrel spending and Mitt Romney's campaign hasn't hesitated to capitalize on it.  Texas Gov. Rick Perry has also knocked Santorum for his earmarking, and Ron Paul released this ad on the subject: