On MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews asked guest Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) is a “big-government socialist.” When Santorum responded vaguely to the question, Matthews pressed him on the issue. “Well, what's your answer?” he asked. Santorum responded, “The answer is yes,” but added, “Socialist may be a little hard.” Matthews again asked whether Santorum agreed with the label, to which Santorum answered, “I would not use the term socialist.”

From the July 27 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:

MATTHEWS: Well, the great thing about you, senator, is that you're clear. You're a conservative. Hillary's a liberal. What makes the difference really between you in your heart and her in her heart? What's the big difference?

SANTORUM: I'd say it is top-down versus bottom-up. She sees, I think, the role of America going forward with the experts from on high trying to sort of guide the country in the direction --

MATTHEWS: And she's on top.

SANTORUM: And she's on top. I believe that it's bottom-up, that we need to have strong families, strong community organizations, and that America's a great country and will be a great country if we rebuild the family and strengthen the family to lead America.

MATTHEWS: Is she a big-government socialist?

SANTORUM: Look at her voting record. The answer to that is pretty clear. She has -

MATTHEWS: Well, what's your answer?

SANTORUM: The answer is yes.

MATTHEWS: She's a big-government socialist?

SANTORUM: Well, socialist may be a little hard. But she -

MATTHEWS: Well, it was my word. Is it yours?

SANTORUM: I would not use the term socialist.

MATTHEWS: OK, what would you call her? Big government?

SANTORUM: She's a liberal. And she's someone who believes in big government. And she's someone who believes in government by the experts, by the elite.