Rick Santorum tells South Carolina it’s not over

Stumping in Upstate South Carolina, which he praised as the conservative heart of the state, Rick Santorum insisted to the voters who came to see him that the Republican presidential primary was wide open and that they could choose the candidate they believed in, not the one the establishment believed in.

“This idea that this is a fait accompli, that Mitt Romney is going to be the nominee, or that Mitt Romney is on this roll, let me assure you ladies and gentlemen, South Carolina has a lot to say about that,” he said, calling the presidential election “the most important election in your lifetime.”

The former Pennsylvania senator has staked his bid to upset Romney on his commitment to his faith-and-family values, repeatedly stressing that he has not wavered in his beliefs, drawing an contrast with the front-runner, whose views have evolved since he was governor of Massachusetts.

But at a packed event in Rock Hill, Marlene Mitchell, a businesswoman, rose to express the fears of many conservative voters across the Palmetto State.

“I don’t know how to ask this question, and I certainly don’t mean any disrespect because you’re my guy, but like a lot of conservative Republicans I’m very worried about having to vote for moderate Mitt Romney,” she said. “I don’t want to vote for Mitt Romney. I think that Mitt Romney will do the same thing to this country that Barack Obama’s done and just take it down the same path a little bit slower. I’m concerned about you, Newt and Perry all drawing conservative Republicans and splitting the conservative vote. This country cannot stand four more years of Barack Obama, and I’m not so sure it can take four years of Mitt Romney.”

Santorum dismissed the idea that he, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry should work out some kind of deal. He also dismissed the idea that Gingrich was a conservative. He said that he trusted the people of South Carolina to do their homework and choose the candidate who stands for what they do. “If you look at what I’ve fought for and look at what I’ve advocated and look at what I’ve led on, it’s been solid, consistent, rock-solid conservative,” he said. “This race is just starting. I know the media would love to have you believe this race is over if one thing or another happens. This race is just beginning. South Carolina can completely change the whole tenor of this race.”

Santorum drew more than 400 people to that event in a chandelier-lit clubhouse. The enthusiastic audience, including many young families, hung on his words, applauded frequently and interrupted with cries of: “That’s right.” He drew some of his biggest applause when he talked about his family and said that he and his wife, Karen, had been married 21 years and that she was a home-schooling mom.

About 70 people squeezed onto the back deck at Popes at the White House, a restaurant in York, braving winter, which finally arrived with 40-degree temperatures and a penetrating breeze. Santorum, perhaps trying to convey his unwavering convictions with his wardrobe, spoke wearing only his now-trademark sweater vest over a neatly pressed shirt. But he cut short his sometimes quite lengthy stump speech, distilling it to its essence: he is the true conservative candidate, and he can win.

“America needs a strong-conviction leader that will rally the country together to do big things,” he said.

Santorum then slipped into a private room for lunch at the 2-year-old roadhouse, which the gregarious owners have intensely decorated with a particularly eclectic mix of knick-knacks and collectibles from Key West, boxing matches, University of South Carolina football and “The Wizard of Oz.” The special this week: a GOP burger with fries for $6.54, including mint tea, humor and tax.

The last campaign stop was at a burger stand in shopping mall in Gaffney, where he stood between a USC banner a gamecock and a Clemson banner with a paw print. Patrick Cox, a 58-year-old manager of an embroidery plant, was sitting at a table with three friends from his church, West End Baptist. He is deeply worried about the debt. “The greatest threat to national security is the debt,” he said.

Like many at these events, he has not made up his mind whom he will support, but Santorum has caught his attention. “He just came out of nowhere,” he said. “He’s been the guy at the end of the podium.”

john.hoeffel@latimes.com