Top Santorum backer is ‘rock solid’ behind him

by Cameron Joseph - 02/27/15 4:02 PM ET

Former Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R-Pa.) biggest 2012 donor told The Hill that he’ll definitely keep bankrolling his friend during his 2016 presidential bid.

{mosads}Billionaire Foster Friess, who nearly single-handedly bankrolled the super-PAC that helped Santorum stay alive for months in his battle against eventual nominee Mitt Romney, said he’s “rock solid” behind Santorum despite entreaties from other candidates and their allies.

“I’ve been walking with all these guys, I got a hug from [former Texas Gov. Rick] Perry and I got a big hug from [Wisconsin Gov. Scott] Walker, I love all these guys,” Friess said as he waited in the halls of the Conservative Political Action Conference for Santorum to conclude an interview. “We have the most talented field of candidates I think I can remember in my lifetime. … But I’m rock solid behind Santorum, because I think he’s got the best shot at winning.”

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Friess and his deep pockets helped keep Santorum’s campaign going when the official campaign was running on fumes by giving nearly $2 million to Patriot Voices, his super-PAC. And while he has already helped him this year with an Arizona fundraising meeting, Friess spent big to help Walker fight off his recall election, and some Walker donors have been hopeful they could bring him over.

But Friess said that won’t happen.

“I’ve already put in a few bucks into Patriot Voices,” he said. “I’m there with both feet.”

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