Politics & Government

Santorum May Show Saturday At Chesterfield Caucus

Republican Rick Santorum may be the first presidential candidate to visit a caucus here, ever.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is expected to visit Chesterfield on Saturday, the day of its Republican caucus at Westminster Christian Academy in Town and County next door.

Santorum is expected to also travel through St. Charles, Wildwood, and the —the site of Lafayette Township Committe Caucus.

He also is scheduled to appear in Lewis and Clark Township north of Hazelwood, and in Alton, IL, although the exact details were not available Wednesday night.

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An announcement is expected Thursday.

The candidate's wife, Karen Santorum, is scheduled to appear in Queeny Township, followed by Des Peres Township and then Tesson Ferry Township in South St. Louis County on Saturday. The couple is expected to meet up in Hazelwood sometime before noon.

Find out what's happening in Chesterfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Santorum previously was around St. Louis in late January with a , and also had a victory gathering in St. Charles the day of .

Chris Grahn-Howard, a Ballwin resident and Lafayette Township Committeeperson who also blogs for Ballwin-Ellisville Patch, said Saturday’s visits may mark the first time in Missouri’s history that a presidential candidate has visited local party caucuses.

“It’s the ultimate grass roots play,” Howard said. “I think that’s a huge thing.”

Santorum won Missouri’s non-binding presidential primary wth 55 percent of the vote, but the caucus results tabulated Saturday through April 17 will be the real test of the Pennsylvania-native’s viability in the Show-Me State.

“Even though there was little voter turnout in the February primary, I think he’s staking his claim,” Howard said.

On Tuesday, Santorum claimed primary victories in Alabama and Mississippi, while Republican front-runner Mitt Romney took the most votes in Hawaii's caucus. Romney  that day.

Check back with Chesterfield Patch for details on Saturday’s schedule.


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