Shelby Township

Santorum to speak Friday at Shelby Township event

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

With the Feb. 28 U.S. presidential primary around the corner, Sterling Heights native Glenn Clark thought he’d help out his friend Rick Santorum.

Fresh off Santorum’s Feb. 7 primary wins in Missouri, Colorado and Minnesota, he will be the first Republican presidential hopeful to speak in Macomb County at 11:15 a.m. Feb. 17 at Palazzo Grande at 54660 Van Dyke Ave.

“I’m a friend of his, and I remember him, although he might not remember me, from when he came in to Michigan in 2010,” said Clark, the Michigan Faith and Freedom Coalition president.

“We talked to him about doing something last October when they had the debate at Oakland University, but that fell apart. So this is something we’ve been working on for a couple months.”

Clark said the event is not ticketed, which means that all are welcome and there is no charge for admission. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with Santorum, who also won the Iowa caucus Jan. 3, set to speak at 11:15 a.m.

“There are not enough hours to reach out to everyone, but we have wide arms and open doors,” Clark said of the open invitation to all interested parties.

“We want to have a big impact on the Michigan presidential primary,” Clark added. “And we want people out hearing from a presidential candidate — the leading presidential candidate.”

Santorum’s wins Feb. 7 gave him 71 delegates, placing him second to Mitt Romney, who has 105 delegates after winning primaries in New Hampshire, Florida, Maine and Nevada.

“Last night, clean sweep victories in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri were nothing short of stunning,” Santorum said in a post on his website Feb. 8.

“Overnight we have changed the race for the (presidency). But it wasn’t just a big win for our campaign — it was also a huge win for conservatism and the tea party movement.”

The Michigan primary, which will dictate the votes of 30 delegates, takes place the same day as Arizona and its 29 delegates.

Along with the Troy-based Michigan Faith and Freedom Coalition, Santorum’s appearance is co-sponsored by the Macomb County Republican Party, Metro Detroit Freedom Coalition Tea Party, Romeo Area Tea Party and the Southeast Michigan 9.12 Tea Party.

“None of the groups are endorsing him, but a lot of the individual leaders have and I have,” Clark said of Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. “He’s a friend and a great American.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1029.