Santorum: Pride of Carmel High, or Not?

While the Illinois primary is not until March, the Santorum candidacy is already sparking debate in suburban Chicago where Santorum graduated from Mundelein’s Carmel High School.

Al Salvi, once a state lawmaker who ran and lost for the US Senate, is busy circulating Santorum’s petitions. Salvi, also a Carmel alum has been friends with Santorum for years. Salvi has precious little time to waste since the petition deadline is Friday to make it on the March 20th Illinois primary ballot.

"I hope Illinois will come through for him," said Salvi. "I’ve got to be honest with you, a week or two ago I was wondering if this was going anywhere but he sounded confident."

Not all Carmel alums however are rooting for Santorum. Matt Muchowski, from the Carmel class of 2002 disagrees with Santorum’s conservative social views.

"I don’t think his views accurately reflect Carmel alumni, or Catholics," said Muchowski

Muchowski has initiated a Facebook page called "Carmel Catholic Alumni Against Rick Santorum" and said it’s gaining interest.

Muchowski disagrees with Santorum’s comments on gay rights and says "poll after poll shows Catholics are for equality."

Salvi isn’t necessarily surprised with the anti-Santorum Facebook page, saying "there’s always somebody who disagrees with you and I respect" those who have different views.

As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, only Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Perry had filed to be on Illinois' March 20 primary ballot, a check of the State Board of Elections shows. Camps for Santorum,  Newt Gingrich and President Barack Obama said they'll file by the 5 p.m. Friday deadline.

Romney was the first to file in Illinois. Sen. Mark Kirk endorsed Romney last month.

A new poll in New Hampshire shows Santorum is on the move – albeit just by single digits – but he’s moved now into third place bypassing Gingrich, The Hill reported Thursday.

The New Hampshire primary is Tuesday, Jan. 10.

<a href="http://

News breaks at inconvenient times. Take NBCChicago.com with you on your iPhone app and be in the know whereever you go. Visit the app store and download it today!