NOVI (WJRT) -
(02/16/12) - It was not any one candidate's campaign stop, but it sure felt like one when Republican Rick Santorum got up to speak. Santorum was the keynote speaker at the Oakland County Republican Committee's annual Lincoln Day Dinner Thursday night.
More than 1,400 people bought a ticket to the event -- the biggest turnout this Lincoln Club has had in nearly 30 years. Organizers say this is the most important election cycle of their lifetime, and it's something Santorum also spoke about in his speech.
Santorum says he wouldn't have gotten into the race for president if it weren't for President Barack Obama's Health Care Reform Plan. Santorum also bashed the governor's veto of the Keystone Pipeline, saying it cost jobs. Santorum called the president the "divider in chief," and said he is the one who can really bring the country together.
"Show America that you believe in yourselves, show America that our better days are ahead of us, show America that you're not done building here in Detroit. Nominate someone that has that bold vision, that character, and that bold plan," Santorum said.
Mitt Romney's wife, Ann Romney, also spoke at the dinner Thursday. Ann Romney is a native of Oak Park in Oakland County. Naturally, she said her husband is the right man for the job.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was also there. He said Washington needs to look toward Michigan as a model for responsible and common sense government. Snyder, during his speech, did not say who the right person do that is, but earlier in the day, he endorsed Mitt Romney for president.
Santorum is scheduled to make another appearance in Shelby Township on Friday, before heading to the swing state of Ohio. Ohio has its primary a week after Michigan's on March 6 -- that's Super Tuesday.
