Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum focused on Puerto Rico this week as he continues his bid for the White House. Puerto Rico -- which will have 23 delegates at the Republican National Convention in Tampa -- holds its primary on Sunday.
After addressing supporters in Louisiana after his wins in the Alabama and Mississippi primaries on Tuesday night, Santorum headed out to the island territory for campaign appearances on Wednesday and Thursday.
The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania met with Gov. Luis Fortuno of Puerto Rico on Wednesday before holding a town hall event in San Juan and taking part in an ecumenical service that night. On Thursday, Santorum marched in a street parade in Old San Juan. He also took to the airwaves, doing numerous interviews with the local media.
"During my time in the Senate, I was proud to stand with now-Governor Fortuno and the people of Puerto Rico -- working hand-in-hand with him on issues affecting the Puerto Rican people," Santorum said on Thursday. "The opportunity to visit with the governor and the people of Puerto Rico has been a tremendous experience for me, my wife Karen, and our family. As president, I will ensure the people of Puerto Rico play an important role in our nation's future, and I look forward to working with the governor in the coming years."
Santorum also reeled in an endorsement from Carlos Baerga, the veteran infielder who played in Major League Baseball for 14 years, including stints with the Cleveland Indians -- where he was the last out in the teams losing effort to the Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series -- and the New York Mets.
"I was a fan of Carlos for many years and I'm thrilled to have his endorsement, Santorum said on Thursday. Carlos is a role model for so many because of his career in baseball and his life as a Christian."
Baerga pointed to Santorums commitment to Puerto Rican statehood as one of the reasons that he is backing him for the Republican presidential nomination.
"I support Rick because he is a Christian and has fought for the people of Puerto Rico for many years, and stands behind the people on the issue of statehood," Baerga said on Thursday. "I am grateful to have played professional baseball in the United States and I want all young people to have the same opportunity, and Puerto Rican statehood would make that possible."
While Santorum has been the one Republican presidential hopeful who has focused on Puerto Rico in recent days, Mitt Romney is counting on the support of Fortuno. With his support of Puerto Rican statehood as well as his record as an executive and in Congress where he served as resident commissioner of Puerto Rico, a nonvoting member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Fortuno received some buzz as a possible vice presidential candidate for the Republicans. Fortuno appears to have squelched rumors about appearing on a national ticket when he announced that he would seek another term as governor.
Fortuno endorsed Romney on Jan. 27, right before the former Massachusetts governor scored a big win in the Florida primary. The Romney camp released an ad from Craig Romney -- the candidate's son -- in Spanish, hitting the airwaves in Puerto Rico and noting Fortuno's support.
Mitt Romney is the one candidate who has the record, leadership, experience, and pro-growth plan to continue the course of private-sector job creation weve begun in Puerto Rico and provide economic stability for generations, Fortuno said. Mitt Romney has shown throughout his life that the principles learned in the private sector can be applied to all challenges, whether it was saving the 2002 Olympics or balancing the budget as governor.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
