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Santorum Fires Up North Texas Conservatives

Rick Santorum speaking to supporters at the Bella Donna Chapel in McKinney.
Rick Santorum speaking to supporters at the Bella Donna Chapel in McKinney.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum tried to fire up conservative supporters in North Texas yesterday. He’s hoping to build a three-state win Tuesday night and stoke his campaign bank account in the process. KERA’s Shelley Kofler has more on how Santorum is building on a theme of morality and faith.

After victory speeches Tuesday night, Rick Santorum brought his message of faith, family and freedom to McKinney.

In a chapel filled with pastors and more than 200 Evangelicals he talked about the role faith plays in his political life.

Santorum: I can’t and I won’t check my faith at the door because it motivates me to do things I think are best for our country. It motivates me to stand up for those who are most vulnerable. It motivates me to stand up not just for the unborn child but for the working guy who doesn’t have a job to support his family.

The Catholic father of seven, a former U.S. Senator, recounted events that lead to his becoming one of the most outspoken abortion critics in congress. He talked about leading a fight against partial birth abortion and a son he and his wife chose to deliver even though he died shortly after birth.

Santorum’s voice quivered and some listeners seemed tearful as he talked about his three-year old daughter Bella who has a rare genetic disease. Santorum said doctors didn’t expect her to survive.

Santorum: They told us she wasn’t going to live. They told us, “Don’t do anything. Why bother, she won’t be able to do anything?” Then an amazing thing happened. She didn’t die.

Santorum also let loose on another red-hot social issue- gay marriage. He criticized this week’s federal court decision to overturn a California law that bans same sex marriage.

Santorum: What we’re seeing all over the place is the intolerance of the secular left. They want their world view to be imposed without question. And if you question them you’re haters you’re bigots.

Santorum’s frank discussion of personal battles and faith registered with Evangelicals like Darryl Cavalier.

Cavalier: I think the speech was the most powerful political speech I ever heard in my life because of his stand on morale issues. He has jumped up to the front big time.

Bruce Parks, a pastor from Spring who drove 240 miles, said he now thinks Santorum has a chance at the nomination.

Parks: I think we heard more from a father than a politician and that was refreshing.

Parks admits Santorum has to really jump start his fundraising ground to go the distance against Mitt Romney’s big dollar campaign. After leaving McKinney Santorum headed to a $250-a plate fundraiser in Dallas where he hoped to make a down payment.

Former KERA staffer Shelley Kofler was news director, managing editor and senior reporter. She is an award-winning reporter and television producer who previously served as the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.