“My dad today is exercising his most important role, which is being a dad,” Elizabeth Santorum told supporters who rallied for Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum in a Sarasota airplane hangar Sunday afternoon. Two days prior to the Florida Republican primary, Santorum was in Virginia caring for his youngest daughter, three-year-old Isabella who was admitted into a hospital Saturday night for pneumonia.
Liz Santorum Steps Into Her Father’s Shoes on the Campaign Trail
Santorum’s eldest daughter, 20-year-old Liz, was visibly upset upon arriving into the venue yet she smiled and displayed confidence during her nearly three-minute speech. She explained how the Santorum family spent nights around the kitchen table talking about the run for president. She took a year off from school in order to campaign.
“We knew from the very beginning this would not be easy. This was not the easiest course for our family,” she told the crowd of nearly 500 supporters. “We knew that there would be hard moments that would test us and try us, but we knew it would be worth it because America is worth it.”
Duggar Family Stumps for Rick Santorum
Prior to Liz Santorum’s appearance, two members of the Duggar family, reality stars of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” spoke while additional family members looked on. Duggar family friend and Anderson County, Tenn., County Commissioner Zach Bates also took to the podium to rally the crowd to support Rick Santorum for president.
“This man is brave, he’s courageous. He has the courage to fight for our country. He believes a strong economy starts with strong families,” Joshua Duggar, eldest of the 19 children said. Calling him “solid through and through,” Joshua Duggar reiterated Santorum’s values in believing “all rights come from God.”
Jill Duggar, fourth born into the family, explained how her family “prayed who to support” and after reviewing the candidates’ voting records, they decided to back Rick Santorum.
“He is the true conservative. He is the one with a voting record to back up what he says,” Jill Duggar said.
New Year’’ Eve, her brothers Joshua and John purchased about $25 worth of vinyl and “lettered it [the Duggar motor home] up with Rick Santorum for President.”
She said the next day after church, the family hit the road for Iowa where they stumped for him and eventually in South Carolina. Jill Duggar encouraged supporters to use their social media channels as Tiwtter and Facebook to encourage their friends to financially support and vote for Rick Santorum.
“I think if everybody in our family could vote, there’s 21 of us, we could help him win by a landslide.”
Jesse Biter, Santorum’s Florida campaign manager and Joe Grueters, Chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, also spoke.
Bella’s Condition
At publication time, Santorum’s daughter Isabella, or Bella, has pulled through pneumonia. She suffers from a chromosomal condition called Trisomy 18 meaning she has three chromosomes rather than two copies which interferes with normal development. According to U.S. National Library of Medicine, it’s relatively common syndrome and three times more common in girls than boys.
Find additional photos from the Santorum and Newt Gingrich Sarasota rallies in my 2012 Presidential Race album.
My Two Cents
Hey, it’s really heating up America. Wake up and pay attention. Know the issues and what the candidates stand for. I’m certainly looking forward to cast my vote in November.
The United States Political landscape has gone to crap over the past few elections due to extreme polarization. We need to rise up against that and take back our society from Big Pharma, Big Tobbacco, Big Insurance and really just big companies. It is time for our elections to cease being bought out.
The American Political landscape has gone to crap over the past couple years due to special interests. We need to stand up for our rights and take back our society from Big Pharma, Big Tobbacco, Big Insurance and really just big companies. It is time for our elections to cease being stolen.