Rick Santorum's big-name endorsers: The Duggar family, circa 2007
Oh, this is too too fabulous. The Duggar family, of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, has endorsed Rick Santorum in the Republican presidential primary; they previously endorsed Mike Huckabee in 2008.
Family patriarch Jim Bob Duggar, a former Arkansas state legislator and 12 (or so) Duggar children are stumping for Santorum in Iowa, arriving in the family's bus, which they've emblazoned with Santorum's name. Jim Bob offered a full-throated endorsement:
“We’re calling on the Christian people throughout the United States to get behind Rick Santorum now, and don’t splinter the vote. Get behind a true conservative with a proven track record,” Duggar said.
Jim Bob also reported that wife Michelle had recorded a robocall for Santorum.
How much difference endorsements make, if any, is always questionable. But the Duggars have a potentially potent combination of celebrity in certain evangelical Christian and homeschooling circles as well as in popular culture. At a minimum, they're drawing significant attention to an ascendant campaign that has until now been starved of money and resources. Even if the Duggar endorsement doesn't add to Santorum's credibility with evangelicals, they're publicly highlighting the existence of that credibility.
Also, it's just funny that a father and 12 of his 19 children showing up in their bus may be the best thing yet to happen to Rick Santorum.