Daily Santorum: Major IA endorsement
The big Rick Santorum news today is he's picked up the endorsement of Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz, just a day after announcing a raft of endorsements from well-known Republican social conservatives.
The campaign teased the endorsement as a “major announcement” and it is a big boost for the candidate who has spent the most time campaigning in the state.
During the last cycle, Schultz backed Mitt Romney, who shares his Mormon faith.
Their shared religion as well as the previous endorsement in 2007 will definitely be interpreted as a swipe to the former Massachusetts governor.
“Matt Schultz is a rising star within the Iowa Republican party,” Tim Albrecht, caucus veteran and communications director for Iowa governor Terry Branstad said. “His endorsement is another in a long line of impressive gets for the Santorum campaign. Rick Santorum’s organization here is real and that will be reflected on caucus night.”
Santorum is pressing on with the Trump debate (which only he and front-runner Newt Gingrich are joining), and released a statement last night calling his other opponents hypocrites for turning it down:
"Many of my opponents jockeyed to be the first to fly up to New York and use Donald Trump for a photo op and no doubt try and secure an endorsement. But when Donald wants to moderate a debate - they refuse to attend. That's what's so wrong with politics today - hypocrisy. At this critical time in our nation's history, just weeks before Iowan's cast this important vote - many of the other candidates want to hide behind TV ads and mail pieces. We plan to be there front and center in person to debate Newt directly, and if it's just the two of us, we're fine with it.
There's no doubt that any of us are better than Barack Obama - however, we can't afford to put up a person who can't clearly articulate a vision or has a glass jaw or a unprincipled past. Donald Trump knows business and knows global markets - and we all know he'll be able to bring in a broad audience. And let's be honest, at least Donald Trump will have more in common with the candidates than with vast majority of past moderators."
The campaign's full statement on the Schultz endorsement (set for a full unveiling tonight) is after the jump:
Urbandale, IA - Today Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum received the endorsement of Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz. Schultz is the first Iowa statewide elected official to endorse a Republican presidential hopeful.
Senator Santorum said: "I am honored to receive Secretary of State Schultz's endorsement today. Matt is a rising conservative star, not just in Iowa but for the entire nation. Matt built his own campaign for Secretary of State through grassroots campaigning and exciting activists - not through TV ads and occasional rallies in Des Moines. Matt went door-to-door, coffee shop to coffee shop and won over the people of Iowa. I learned from Matt Schultz how Iowa campaigns are run, and I am thrilled to have his vote of confidence today. I am excited to work with Matt over the next month as we execute our plan to win the Iowa caucuses."
Matt Schultz was elected in 2008 to Iowa's Secretary of State. Prior to his election in 2008, Schultz served on the Council Bluffs City Council from 2005 - 2008. Schultz holds an Associates Degree from BYU-Idaho, Bachelors Degree from the University of Iowa, and a Law Degree from Creighton University.