Even before the candidates had taken the stage in Monday night's debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Republican Rick Santorum was out with a new ad blasting frontrunner Mitt Romney by linking Romney to President Obama.

"Obama supported the Wall Street bailouts; so did Romney," the announcer intones at the start of the new 30 second ad that's running in the Palmetto State.

Santorum's message is that he is the only real conservative in the race - and that Romney is not; so far though, Romney continues to draw the most support from self-identified Tea Party voters in the GOP field.

Santorum has been struggling in recent days in South Carolina, unable to gather momentum like he saw in Iowa just two weeks ago when he finished in a near dead-heat with Romney.

Early polls in South Carolina had Santorum in third place, but he's since settled just back of Ron Paul as they duel for third and fourth behind Romney and Newt Gingrich.

Santorum's answer?  Take on Romney, as he does in this ad.  Will it work?