GOP Candidate Santorum Stumps In Fairfield
FAIRFIELD (CBS13) – On a day when his rival is expected to pick up some more major Republican endorsements, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is turning to candy and The Gipper for support.
Santorum was at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield Thursday for a rally and a fundraising event.
So why the Jelly Belly Factory? The answer is Ronald Reagan. The former president and California governor loved Jelly Belly beans, serving them in the Oval Office and on board Air Force One during his presidency.
Santorum has referenced Reagan several times during this campaign as he's talked about proposed tax cuts and likened them to cuts Reagan made during his time in office. He mentioned Reagan during his speech Thursday and said he never would have supported government's involvement in health care.
Santorum also called out rival GOP candidate Mitt Romney for catering to the moderate vote.
"It's a disengeous game ... politicians trying to get power at the expense of the American public," he said.
Santorum spoke to a crowd of Republic 300 supporters, including Jelly Belly owner Herm Rowland.
There was also a heckler wearing a Santorum sticker who was yelling "Californias are for marriage equality."
The candidate continued his speech over her shouts. She was ushered out of the room.
Santorum didn't have to look far for a visual connection to Reagan during his visit to the factory. More than one portrait of Reagan, made from thousands of Jelly Belly beans, hangs in the Fairfield plant.
The company's blueberry flavor was created for Reagan's presidential inauguration so there could be a red, white and blue Jelly Belly mixture. According to Jelly Belly, more than 3 tons of Jelly Belly beans were eaten during the festivities.
Reagan even had Jelly Belly beans sent into outer space on a 1983 flight of the space shuttle Challenger.
