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Bipartisan Flair

(Courtesy Bemidji Woolen Mills)
(Courtesy Bemidji Woolen Mills)

With Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) and former Rep. Buddy Roemer (La.) winding down their bids for the presidency, we at HOH were reminded of another recent presidential dropout, as well as his contribution to sartorial politics.

So, ex-Sen. Rick Santorum, this sweater vest moment’s for you!

Recall back in late 2011 and early 2012 that the American public and the media were abuzz over the Pennsylvania Republican’s sleeveless sweaters.

Sweater vests were de rigueur! And Santorum, being a real American, started selling them to raise money for his campaign.

In February, his campaign tapped the Bemidji Woolen Mills factory in Minnesota to supply his supporters with their trendy torso-warmers for $100 a pop. The factory started booming and could barely keep up with demand.

Even today, long after the dawn of spring’s warmer temperatures, the Bemidji website gives Santorum a shoutout, saying the conservative firebrand tapped the company “in an effort to recognize the importance of American Manufacturing.”

Santorum even got a personal “thank you” from Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Her office confirms that when she ran into Santorum at an event, she took the opportunity to pass along her thanks.

Who says bipartisanship is dead when two lawmakers from opposite ends of the political spectrum can bond over cotton sweater vests?

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