Rick Santorum: Only GOP Candidate to Show at Scheduled Labor Day Parade

AP Photo/Eric Gay
AP Photo/Eric Gay

GOP presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was the only GOP candidate—out of several who had promised to participate in the Chapin Labor Day Parade in South Carolina per the parade line up—to personally show up and follow through on the commitment, according to a local ABC affiliate report, according to a local ABC affiliate report.

WCIV noted, “Only one Republican candidate showed up at the Labor Day Parade in Chapin, South Carolina. Seven signed up, but only Rick Santorum followed through.”

A spokesperson for Carly Fiorina, Sarah I. Flores, told Breitbart News the her group, “PAC CARLY for America” was at the parade, and that Fiorina was not issued an official personal invitation.

The State reported that the parade featured more than 90 groups and seven presidential campaigns.

“In the lineup was Republican Rick Santorum – the only White House contender shaking hands and posing for pictures along Chapin’s parade route Monday. Other 2016 presidential White House hopefuls headed to Iowa and New Hampshire events for the holiday – a chance to make headway in early state contests,” wrote The State’s Jamie Self.

“People know when you’re not here,” Lexington County Council candidate Dino Teppara told The State.

“You’re voting for a leader, not just someone who will vote on issues but someone who will lead the country. And I think you want a level of comfort with that person and these parades really give an opportunity to do that,” Santorum told WCIV at the event.

Santorum was asked about being the only GOP presidential candidate in appearance. He said, “It shows that someone is paying attention to South Carolina and going to events where there are people, not just going to fundraisers here.”

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Sen. Marco Rubio were listed on the parade lineup.

Although those candidates did not show up personally to the parade, WLTX reported, “Some of the candidates that had campaign presence at the parade were Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.”

***UPDATE***

Spokesperson for Carly Fiorina, Sarah I. Flores, tells Breitbart News the PAC CARLY for America was in attendance for the parade, but Fiorina was not issued an official personal invitation.

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