Santorum Hopes to Move to Head of the Class

After 37 years, Madalen Spence of Taylors finally asked someone to sign her yearbook.

A kid they called, "Rooster." 

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum was greeting supporters on Saturday at Tommy’s Ham House in Greenville.

Spence was seated just yards from where Santorum would enter the popular eatery that has become a stumping ground for politicians. 

While Spence admits she didn’t know Santorum well, she grew up in the same hometown and knows his background.

“He was in the band, Junior Achievement and was a manager for the baseball team,” she said. “And now, he’s a candidate for president.”

Spence flipped open her Butler (Pa.) Senior High School yearbook to the marching band and in a neat cursive Santorum’s name was emblazoned. She turns the pages, pointing out photos of him with other team managers and sitting bedecked in plaid pants with members of Junior Achievement.

But it wasn’t just the fact that they went to school together through the 11^th grade (Santorum moved their senior year) that brought Spence out to his campaign event, she also likes Santorum the candidate.

“His strong family values, his morals and ethics,” Spence said. “I’m hoping he will win.”

Before he got down to business, Santorum gave a shout-out and a word of thanks to Tommy Stevenson, the owner of the breakfast nook.

Santorum said he remembers the first time he came there and had a small table of people around him.

And 11 days after he finished second in the Iowa Caucuses, the former Pennsylvania senator reminded the crowd of more than 200, Iowa’s not done, yet.

“South Carolina fights to be the first in the South primary, to be third in line,” Santorum said. “And what happened is that Iowa did not narrow the field. And, by the way, Iowa’s not done yet. They’re recounting those ballots right now.”

“So hold all this … ‘We’re going to win and he’s got two primaries down.’ Just hold on a second. We’re not quite done there.

Santorum focused what he calls his “faith, family and freedom” tour, making the case that he is the GOP’s best candidate to beat President Barack Obama.

“We need someone bold and courageous,” Santorum said. “…We need someone who is willing to go out and fight to fix the problems that we have in America… We need to get manufacturing jobs back in this state and back in this country.”

Santorum talked about how he knew the Upstate better than anywhere in the state. He pleaded with people to vote their convictions and morals.

“This is the manufacturing hub of South Carolina,” Santorum said. “You wanna have this economy explode. You elect me and this area of the country will explode economically.”

Santorum talked about working hard for the American dream. He talked about faith and family, introducing his wife, Karen. He talked about single-parent families and how many are living at poverty level.

 “The foundation of our country is faith and family,” Santorum said. “If America does not have a strong family unit, which moms and dads instill faith, and morality, and virtue into our children to build a good, decent and just society from the bottom up, America will not survive.”

He talked about repealing Obamacare and balancing the nation’s budget.

Santorum spoke candidly, “We need a candidate who is going to go out and be honest with America, reflect the values of the people in the Upstate.

“Make your vote on Saturday, a week from today, match your values.”

Santorum took questions from the crowd, addressing Iran’s nuclear weapons and the death of a scientist earlier in the week, Medicare and social security, and gave his view of a two-state solution for Israel.

Jose Perez of Greenville, an undecided voter, said he came because he hadn’t agreed with Santorum on things that he had done.

“I don’t have a choice right now,” Perez said. “I had my doubts because of his past. But he’s probably the best choice out there, but I’m still not sure.”

When asked what might swing his vote, Perez said he would have to do more research and think long and hard before next Saturday.

Brock Stevens held his infant son and listened to Santorum speak. Occasionally, Stevens nodded his head in agreement or applauded.

“I think Rick Santorum definitely speaks from the heart when he gets up here and tells people what he believes,” Stevens said. “He’s genuine.”

Stevens said he has been on the fence trying to decide between Santorum and Mitt Romney. While his beliefs are more in line with Santorum’s, Stevens said he has to think realistically.

“Is he actually going to get the nomination, knowing how much money Romney has?” Stevens said. “I think he could be the next president and he’s getting my vote in the primary.”