Rick Santorum spends Monday campaigning in Fox River Valley

RIPON -- Rick Santorum took to the Fox River Valley Monday, April 2nd, on the eve of the presidential primary election in Wisconsin.

A "Rally for Rick" was held Monday evening outside of the "Little White Schoolhouse" in Ripon, known as the birthplace of the Republican Party. This rally capped off a busy day for Santorum as he made campaign stops in Green Bay, Appleton and Ripon.

Santorum's appearance in Ripon Monday evening was his last and loudest stop after a day in the Fox River Valley. Supporters were greeted by protesters, fighting for space to be near the former Pennsylvania senator.

Earlier in the day Monday, Santorum made an appearance at Sabre Lanes, near the border of Appleton and Menasha where 150 supporters gathered to see and hear from the senator in person. "I grew up in a little town, similar to Appleton, called Butler, Pennsylvania. We're out here on our final stretch day, and we're feeling good! We're feeling like we might pull off an upset (Tuesday) in Wisconsin!" Santorum said.

At Sabre Lanes, Santorum continued his attack on Republican front-runner Mitt Romney. "A moderate Massachusetts governor is not going to make that strong contrast," Santorum said.

Santorum said Monday his confidence in a potential Badger state upset comes, in part, from Wisconsin voters themselves. "You elect someone with strong convictions, strong principles. You put them in office and sometimes, they surprise you and actually stand by those principles and get things done, like your governor has done here in Wisconsin," Santorum said.

After rolling a few bowling balls, Santorum made his way to La Sure's Hall in Oshkosh where Santorum spent more time highlighting why he is the best Republican candidate to challenge President Barack Obama. "It is top-down, government control, 'I know best.' 'You will do what you are told, and you will like it.' That's Barack Obama. That's 'Obamacare' in a nutshell," Santorum said.

In Oshkosh, Santorum ripped into Obama's health care reform bill, the Affordable Care Act, referred to as "Obamacare" by critics. "It takes the Constitution and shreds it. It says it doesn't matter anymore. There is no limit," Santorum said.

Santorum's event in Ripon Monday evening was not open to the press, nor the public, but supporters still lined Blackburn Street. "I come from the place where the Republican Party's first convention was held, Pittsburgh. From the beginning to the end of the beginning, if you will," Santorum said. Santorum was referring to the "Little White Schoolhouse" serving as the birthplace of the Republican Party. Before heading inside, Santorum talked about having won 11 states, and his hope for a 12th in Wisconsin Tuesday.