The two speakers who introduced Rick Santorum to the overflow crowd at a Fuddruckers here both proudly described their seven children as blessings — a popular sentiment in a gathering that was heavy with people who call themselves pro-life Christians.
But those speakers’ boasting rights wilted when the next guests came out to talk up Mr. Santorum and provide entertainment until the former senator’s rain-delayed arrival. The crowd gasped audibly when out came Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, the stars of the reality television show “19 Kids and Counting,” along with five of their 19 children and two grandchildren.
“He has proven that he always stands for life,” Mrs. Duggar said of the candidate, and drew huge applause when she praised Mr. Santorum’s role in banning the procedure known as partial-birth abortion.
Then the five Duggar children in the room — two on guitar, two on violin and the oldest son, Joshua, on vocals — regaled the crowd with patriotic song: “This Is My Country,” “This Land Is Your Land” and “God Bless America.”
