Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum arrived in Illinois on Friday ready to campaign.
Santorum kicked off his tour through the Land of Lincoln at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights.
"President likes to talk inequality," said Santorum to a packed auditorium. "But the key to America is going from not having much to becoming successful."
Students filled the high school's auditorium to the point where there was only standing room available. Some even sat on the floor.
While most looked like they were anxious for a Friday getaway, the students were engaged and asked Santorum some tough like one regarding his statement that not everyone has to go to college.
"I said we should respect all persons course in life that they want to take."
Another student asked why he is donating only one percent of his salary to charity. His response explained that his family had chosen not to use Medicaid for their daughter's "profound disabilities," in addition to the cost of raising seven children.
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Santorum also planned a 7 p.m. rally in Arlington Heights at Christian Liberty Academy.
Volunteers for Santorum have been working around the clock lobbying for a win, despite not having delegates in four of the 18 Illinois Congressional Districts. But Santorum seemed optimistic.
"Getting folks on the ballot happened in December when we we're in a pick-up truck in Iowa."
Nearby, Mitt Romney made a stop in Rosemont on his presidential campaign tour though Illinois.
President Obama was also in town for the day at the Palmer House Hilton for a noon fundraiser.
