Posted on 01/09/2012 2:20:37 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Republican presidential candidates Rick Perry and Rick Santorum campaigned in the Upstate on Sunday.
Santorum made two stops in Greenville at Chiefs Wings and Firewater on Congaree Road and at Stax Restaurant on Woodruff Road.
Perry campaigned at the Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg.
Both candidates have made it clear that their focus is on winning South Carolina while Mitt Romney leads most polls leading into the New Hampshire primary.
"I challenge you to go work in South Carolina in the next two weeks like you've never worked before," Perry urged supporters.
"We've moved down here and we're all in," Santorum told the crowd at Stax.
On policy issues, Perry pledged to try to cut pay for Congress, and supported South Carolina's proposed immigration and voter I.D. laws.
"When I'm the President of the United States you don't have to worry about a Perry administration justice department coming into your state and telling you how to run your state from the standpoint of 'You need a photo I.D. to be able to vote,'" Perry said.
Santorum vowed to repeal No Child Left Behind, despite having voted for it while in office. He also distanced himself from the foreign policy views of rival candidate Ron Paul.
"The bottom line is, I am not a libertarian. I am a conservative. I am a Reagan conservative. I do believe in a strong defense. I do believe we should not cut our military. We need to make it stronger so we are safer," Santorum said.
Both candidates made strong pitches to socially conservative Upstate voters.
"(I have) a record that says that we believe in the dignity and sanctity of every human life. It says that we believe the pillar of our society is the family," Santorum said.
Perry told stories about his upbringing to try to gain a rapport with voters.
"I had all I needed. I had my family that loved me. I had my faith in God. I had a community that took care of each other, and that is what america is really based upon when you really think about it," he said.
At Stax, Santorum accepted the endorsement of Gary Bauer, a social conservative icon and former policy advisor to Ronald Reagan. Bauer even referred to Santorum as "the next Ronald Reagan."
Perry plans to make stops in Anderson and Greenville on Monday.
Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum with his wife Karen, speaks at a Republican Party fundraising dinner in Greenville, South Carolina January 8, 2012.
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New Hampshire debate: Perry recalls three agencies to cheers (video) [1:00]
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Best moment of the debate
-- outside of Perry calling Obama a socialist [1:18]
[quote]At Stax, Santorum accepted the endorsement of Gary Bauer, a social conservative icon and former policy advisor to Ronald Reagan. Bauer even referred to Santorum as “the next Ronald Reagan.”[/quote]
This guy’s estimation of Ronald Reagan must be pretty low then. I have no doubt that Santorum is a good guy. I respect many of his positions; however, most of what he says is rather vapid, or aimed at satisfying itching ears of conservatives. He doesn’t present any substance. He doesn’t propose any “radical” reforms of the system that the other candidates don’t already do; and compared to the other candidates, his “reforms” are lackluster.
A vote for Santorum is like a vote for the Generic Republican that sometimes goes head to head against Obama in Presidential polls. In fact, he’d probably be more popular if his name was actually Generic Republican.
I see Santorum’s rise as merely a consequence of a desperation vote; and now that he has this “surge”, conservatives are bandwagging on him in the same way they got on the Newt Gingrich train perhaps just a few days prior. It has nothing to do with real policy positions. It is merely about a desperate desire to get behind a non-Romney candidate for fear of Romney getting the nomination.
That is perfectly understandable. But replacing Romney with a Generic Republican isn’t ideal either.
I was for Cain early on until the GOP turned their backs on him and let him fry in those accusations. Perry is the last real conservative standing. Despite the reputation of being weak on illegals, Perry has actually been pretty strong with them. I don’t believe it is a legitimate issue. His record as Governor is incredibly conservative and deserves consideration. He may look and talk like GWB, but he is far more conservative than GWB. He also has the charisma and substance that the other candidates lack.
Good points.
Rick Perry is anti-establishment-business as usual, and “they” know it.
D.C. does not want the Perry wreaking ball swinging their way.
Be we should. He will be our voice and work for us.
Perry: “You have my back and I will have yours in Washington D.C.
And he means it.
Looks like Santorum has given up on NH. According to strategists, he should never have gone there. At least if he finishes low he can now say he left the state early.
:)
At this point, I’m not keen on bashing any of the remaining conservatives. You don’t have to tear down Santorum to save Perry. All conservatives should focus on Romney. He’s the real threat.
I hope Perry gains some traction in SC. I know it’s hard for him to do with the entire establishment against him. Even the Washington congress critters hate the idea of him coming into DC and cleaning house. He is exactly what we need in there.
.....She would have made the perfect wife if only she hadn't worn that hairdo on our first date.....
Gingrich has a lot of baggage "Utmost Certainty."
The GOP Establishment certainly sees Perry as a threat.
They can’t smear him and make it stick, so they have decided to ridicule Perry (when they do talk about him) trying to marginalize him long enough for Romney to take enough delegates.
We must not stand for it.
It’s especially disgusting when conservatives join the “beat-down.”
Unfortunately Maurice had to pull his famous Carolina Gold sauce out of the grocery stores because he was a supporter of the noble Confederate Battle flag. Pure Leftist evil and petulant PC caused him financial troubles but the quality of his product kept him affluent.
If any of the candidates were to stop by a Piggy Park franchise for lunch they would not only garner new respect but some extra votes—and the Left will rupture themselves in glorious umbrage!
But none of them have the guts.
Go Rick! Go Rick! Go Newt! One of them HAVE to win the nomination or we are in deep trouble! I am too the point where I don’t care which one of the three wins this thing. If we have Romney, we are in deep trouble and most likely will have Obama for another 4 years. Of course Romney for 4 years would be a disaster too.
Yeah, heralding Santorum as the 2nd coming of Reagan, is pretty laughable.
I think 3 of them could be the next Ronald Reagan after 4 years of Obama. I mean Reagan was not all that conservative as Governor of California. It was not until he became President that he became a great conservative. It is possible that Rick, Rick or Newt could easily become the Ronald Reagan at least his principles. I don’t see any of those 3 become Carter, Clinton or Obama.
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Rick Perry can do just one thing in South Carolina, and that is help Mitt Romney win. He can if he is really fortunate peel 4 or 5 points from Newt and another 3 or 4 from Rick S. giving him a total of about 15 - 17 percent. That is if he does really really well. On the other hand if he got behind Newt he could add his 5 to Newts 23, and along with Rick S. 14, they could beat Romney. It is time to stop dreaming and come back to the real world before it is too late. Kinda like the Fred heads learned the hard way in South Carolina in 08 when they help elect Mr. McCain. Same story here.
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