Mt. Pleasant, SC - Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) announced today that his campaign has received the endorsement of York County, SC Council Vice Chairman Eric Winstead.

Eric Winstead said: "I am supporting Senator Santorum because he is a unique candidate with a proven record. He is authentic and speaks on his own terms and not through political handlers, something the American people want and something we haven't seen for a while.  Senator Santorum's visions for this country are similar to mine. He knows what he believes in and he stands by those conservative values; that are spoken from the heart with the conviction of experience.  I believe his campaign is much like Governor Mike Huckabee's in 2008. Rick Santorum is a true conservative campaign built from the ground up, based on morals and beliefs, and a tried and true track record."

Senator Santorum said: "I am honored to have Eric's support.  Eric has been a tremendous conservative leader in the York community.  He understands South Carolina values and he understands what it will take to earn not just the votes, but the trust of South Carolina voters.  I look forward to working with Eric as we build our campaign to win the First-in-the-South primary in South Carolina."

Eric Winstead has been a resident of York County for 32 years.  In addition to serving as the Vice Chairman of the York County Council, Winstead is the chaplain of the Hospice Care of South Carolina and the bi-vocational pastor of the First Baptist Church.  Winstead holds a B.S. degree in Religion from Liberty University.  He and his wife Kim have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of two children - Lauren and Maddie.