Talk about a crowd of support: Duggar family from 19 Kids And Counting endorse Santorum
While many Republican presidential nominees are lining up endorsements from governors and newspaper editorial boards, Rick Santorum got a major, though unlikely name to add to his list of supporters: The Duggars.
The patriarch of the conservative family that star in the TLC reality show 19 Kids And Counting showed up in Iowa Monday to stump for the candidate before tomorrow's critical caucus.
Jim Bob Duggar said that all voters with 'conservative family values have to get behind Rick Santorum for President'.
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Kindred spirits: Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have publicly announced their support for Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum
Quite the crowd: The Duggars have 19 children, having had their 20th baby- named Jubilee- stillborn earlier this month
He drove up in the family's bus with 12 of their 19 kids in tow, but the kids didn't stay outside with the crowd of supporters for too long, as some of them did not have winter clothes.
Nevermind the chill, Mr Duggar told a Washington Post reporter, saying 'it’s worth it. We believe in Rick Santorum. He’s a godly, Christian man who consistently has stood for what’s right.'
The Duggars famously shunned birth control, and see a kindred spirit in Mr Santorum, who has seven children.
Both families have gone through troubling times, as the Duggars' 20th child, whom they named Jubilee, was still born earlier this month.
The Santorums' son Gabriel died in 1996 only two hours after being born prematurely.
Stumping for Santorum: Jim Bob Duggar talks about his support for Rick Santorum in front of the bus his family rode in from Arkansas to campaign for the former Pennsylvania senator
Taking a stand: Amy Duggar made a statement against Mitt Romney, one which was echoed by her cousin Jim Bob at a Santorum event Monday
Vocal: Cousin Amy posted on Facebook blasting Mitt Romney's flip-flop on abortion, an issue close to the family's hearts
Mr Santorum has picked up significant momentum in the pivitol caucus state and is seen by many, apparently including the Duggars, as the most conservative of the seven presidential candidates.
Amy Duggar, Jim Bob's cousin who frequently appears on the show, posted about how she dislikes frontrunner Mitt Romney due to his stance on abortion.
'One reason I am not supporting Mitt Romney is because when he was Governor of Massachusetts he included a program in his Romneycare bill to allow any girl to get an abortion for a $50 copay,' she wrote.
'He says he now has changed his mind about abortion, but how many babies have lost their lives with the ongoing $50 abortion policy he put in place?' she continued.
Jim Bob echoed that sentiment when he and the 12 kids showed up at an Iowa coffee shop to support Mr Santorum.
In 2008, the family supported Mike Huckabee, the former governor of their home state of Arkansas and a Southern Baptist minister.
The latest, and final, poll before tomorrow's caucus has Mr Santorum coming in third with 15 per cent of the vote, with Mr Romney garnering the winning 24 per cent and Ron Paul getting 22 per cent.
The bus: The family travels on a converted ice hockey bus that allows them all to sleep on board while they drive from their Arkansas home
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