Santorum's Arlington Heights stop plays into conservative strategy

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum's push for votes in Illinois will bring him to Arlington Heights Friday for stops at John Hersey High School and at the Christian Liberty Academy.

While campaign organizers said the locations were chosen in part for proximity to O'Hare International Airport as Santorum sweeps through the area in advance of Tuesday's election, the latter stop also allows him to address Evangelical Christians like those who were key supporters in earlier primaries across the nation.

Fresh from victories Tuesday in Mississippi and Alabama, the former Pennsylvania senator is trying to convince conservative Illinois voters to gather behind him — not Newt Gingrich — as the most viable alternative to front-runner Mitt Romney.

“I think it sends a strong signal to conservatives that Rick Santorum is a solid conservative,” said Al Salvi of Libertyville, a former Republican state lawmaker and one of Santorum's biggest Illinois backers.

Santorum will be at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights at 2 p.m. Friday, Salvi said. Then, he might make one or two stops to shake hands with people before heading to a private fundraiser, Salvi said. He is scheduled to be at the Christian Liberty Academy at 7 p.m.

Carmel High School in Mundelein, where Santorum once was a student along with Salvi, is not among the scheduled stops for Santorum, a Catholic.

“We're excited to give Sen. Santorum an opportunity to talk to people in the area,” said the Rev. Calvin Lindstrom, pastor at the Church of Christian Liberty.

Salvi said in deciding where Santorum would go on his half-day suburban blitz, locales like Elgin, the site of Santorum's campaign office, were passed over to reduce the candidate's time spent in transit.

“He wanted to minimize that by having it all in a compact area,” Salvi said.

Santorum also plans to hit a handful of downstate stops earlier in the day, playing to an area of Illinois that's traditionally more conservative.

Lindstrom said the school is planning for 2,000 people at Friday's event.

“We're not endorsing Santorum,” Lindstrom said. “We'd be in agreement with, certainly, some of his issues.”

Presidential candidates in the suburbs

<b>Thursday</b>

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia is expected at Barrington High School at 9 a.m., while his wife, Callista, plans to visit The Goddard School in Lake in the Hills at the same time.

Gingrich is expected at 10 a.m. at Judson College in Elgin and at the Lake in the Hills airport for a rally at 3:30 p.m.

<b>Friday</b>

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is expected at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights at 2 p.m., then will appear at 7 p.m. at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights.