As the presidential campaign brings its battle for control of the Republican Party to Florida, crowds are gathering throughout the state to hear the candidates deliver their finest stump speeches in advance of the all-important primary on January 31.
On a day when rivals Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney also visited Southwest Florida, Rick Santorum was welcomed to Punta Gorda by an enthusiastic band of supporters.
Speaking on the scenic banks of the Peace River to an estimated crowd of 700 persons, the former Senator from Pennsylvania arrived at Laishley Park Municipal Marina just before 4:00pm and took the stage shortly thereafter.
With temperatures well into the 80s and sun shining brightly overhead, the affable contender was forced to leave his signature sweater vest at home.
Introduced by WCCF radio personality Ken Lovejoy, host of the daily program "Charlotte County Speaks," Santorum spoke at the Rally By The Water, sponsored by the Punta Gorda Tea Party. Marking the first time a presidential candidate has visited Charlotte County in recent memory, Lovejoy got the event off to a raucous start by reminding listeners that "elections have consequences."
Santorum was met with warm approval and began his remarks by praising the passion of the Tea Party movement. Indeed, he suggested their actions were instrumental in his decision to "get off the couch" and re-enter the political arena by launching a presidential campaign.
The 53 year-old addressed the crowd for 30 minutes, speaking freely and confidently, and without the assistance of an Obama-style teleprompter. His remarks not only trumpeted limited government, family values, and spending cuts, but attempted to distinguish him from primary rivals.
Twenty minutes into the speech, Santorum directly took on the records of Romney and Gingrich. He used the issue of government healthcare to question the history of his opponents, as no theme resonated more with this Republican audience than its common opposition to "Obamacare."
The former Senator also used the phrase "from the bottom up" on 3 occasions to describe his lofty opinion for the potential of the American economy and the versatility of the American people.
Santorum drew perhaps his biggest applause in a refusal to apologize for the President's criticism of those who defend their faith and firearms. Declaring, "You're darned right we cling to our guns and our bibles," the Pennsylvania native drew hearty approval from the mostly mature crowd, seemingly united in opposition to the current administration in Washington.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Santorum asked listeners "to give me the opportunity to make the case against Barack Obama," and that suggestion met an overwhelmingly positive response.
The candidate then welcomed questions for an 15 additional minutes, where topics such as illegal immigration, the future of the Department of Education, and the overreach of the TSA were discussed interactively.
The event drew little opposition from this mostly conservative community. Four total attendees were counted voicing any form of disapproval and only 1 of those was motivated enough to hold a sign expressing opposition.
Santorum concluded the rally graciously, as he slowly worked his way through the crowd, eager to chat and pose for pictures before departing. The former Senator will finish his day in Southwest Florida with a private fundraiser in Fort Myers, before heading to Miami for a Univision Candidate Forum on Wednesday morning.
Paula Schaff, president of the Punta Gorda Tea Party, expressed pleasure with success of the event and the community's positive response to Santorum, who is scheduled to return to Charlotte County for a "Lincoln Day Dinner" on January 29, 2012.
Be sure to view additional behind-the-scenes pitcures of the candidate and the audience in the Photo Gallery above.
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