Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum Spends Sunday In Oklahoma

Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum made a swing through the state Sunday.  The former Pennsylvania senator started with a rally on the state Capitol steps, in Oklahoma City, where he was met by both supporters and protesters.

Saturday, March 3rd 2012, 10:20 am

By: News On 6

Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum Spends Sunday In Oklahoma

Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum made a swing through the state Sunday. The former Pennsylvania senator started with a rally on the state Capitol steps, in Oklahoma City, where he was met by both supporters and protesters.

It turned into a screaming match. With both sides shouting, Santorum's voice was hard to hear.

Things were much calmer in Broken Arrow Sunday evening, where Santorum spoke at Grace Church.

He has told national reporters that Oklahoma is "ground zero" of the conservative movement. So he came to attract the base.

His audience included reality star family the Duggars – and at least one loud protester.

It started out with a standing ovation for Santorum. But it wasn't long until the cheering subsided and the shouting began.

A protester was quickly removed by police, and the former Senator got down to business.

"Everyone says, 'Oh, it's the economy, Rick; it's the economy, stupid.' Yes, it is the economy. But it's more than the economy," Santorum said.

Santorum says he sees the world from a fundamentally different perspective than President Obama.

"They believe in a pre-Revolutionary America where the elite should decide what's best for those in flyover country," Santorum said.

He's receiving national attention for comparing the Presdident's health care reform to drug dealing - saying America is hooked on entitlement programs.

"That's how they see you, as people to get hooked like a drug dealer, someone to become dependant upon them. And once that happens, they got you."

As the message behind the podium suggested, Santorum promised to fight for American jobs.

"I hesitate to say we're going to create jobs in government because I don't believe that," Santorum said. "We create an atmosphere for you to create jobs out of the private sector."

Santorum argues oil companies should be able to find energy within our own borders without government regulation.

Santorum also wants to decrease the scale of government.

"The biggest thing we need to do in Washington, D.C., right away is we have to deal with the deficit and the debt. Right? Without increasing taxes," Santorum said.

His message resonated with many of the nearly 1,000 people in the church audience.

Supporter Bill Farr said: "We all know his beliefs on family values but he spoke tonight on economic issues."

"He gave a real solid solution to the problems," supporter Gail Ankam said. "That's what appealed to me the most."

Santorum was in Tulsa just last month for a big town hall at Oral Roberts University. Thousands showed up to hear his plan for the country.

Recent polls have Santorum leading in the Sooner State.

The Oklahoma Republican presidential primary is Tuesday. News On 6 and NewsOn6.com will have all election results starting at 7 p.m.