©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Santorum Dines and Dashes in Galesburg |
It wasn't the food that over a hundred people lined up for outside Galesburg's Chez Willy's Monday night, it was to catch a glimpse of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
The former Pennsylvania senator waved amongst of a sea of police, state troopers and secret service agents as he exited his vehicle. He was escorted inside for a meal, then promptly departed the restaurant for a campaign stop in Peoria roughly fifteen minutes later.
Supporters held signs, wore buttons, and chanted Santorum's name from each side of Seminary Street, one of them was Galesburg resident Pat Conklin.
"It was very, very cool seeing him," Conklin said. "I like Rick a lot, I like his value system. I like the direction that I think he would take America in."
Conklin says she's concerned about the nation's debt and health care issues, and says she feels Santorum can move the country in a positive direction.
Knox College student Will Bouman sits on the other side of the spectrum.
"I don't think you can have a candidate who's not for anything," Bouman said. "He's just literally against anything, that has been done, has been moved forward, that has been done in this country progressively over the last fifty years."
Bouman goes on to call Santorem a reactionary, and says he's someone who intends to minimize access to health care and education.
Santorum, who's dinner date last night wasn't even supposed to be publicized according to his press secretary, was not available for full media access.
Voting begins early Tuesday morning for the Illinois' GOP primary. Mitt Romney has maintained the edge thus far elsewhere in the country.
(WGIL News Story and Photos by Kyle Schassburger). |
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| 03 20 12 by Newsroom |
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