At Santorum rally, disappointed and looking ahead

MANHEIM, Pa. - The news had already spread through the Pennsylvania heartland, but still they arrived three, four, even five hours early, to see to the only man in the presidential race whom they believe shares their values.

Many supporters of Rick Santorum, in line to hear his first extended post-campaign speech Tuesday evening, said they will vote - unenthusiastically - for Mitt Romney against President Obama in the fall.

But a few said they simply didn't know what to do.

"I have to really pray about that," said Irene Alleman, 80, who stood for hours in the biting wind outside the chapel at Lancaster Bible College, where Santrom was to speak. "I'm still in doubt."

Santorum "was the best man, I'll tell you," Alleman said. "He's moral, he's a Christian man, he's been in [public] service for a while, so he knows what we need."

On a stage at the small Christian college - accompanied by evangelist leader James Dobson, who had endorsed him - Santorum recounted his experience on the trail and in the Senate. The event still had the air of the campaign - the Secret Service swept the auditorium though the candidate had quit the race hours earlier.

Santorum got personal, showing pictures of his family on a big screen, and rattling off some of the arguments and statistics he had used in stump speeches of a campaign that hardly let up for him since last spring.

Asked what he planned to do next, Santorum said: "I'd like to get some sleep."

In introducing him, Dobson said that "this could be a sad day, and it's not going to be. This is a day of celebration."

One listener, Bruce Elser, said he does mission work and felt a kinship with Santorum. As for Romney, Elser said: "I'm very sensitive to the spirit, and I just don't have a good feeling about him."

While Santorum never mentioned Romney on Tuesday, supporters saw a contrast.

Santorum "understands that the problem is the soul of America," said Will Morris, 18, a Lancaster Bible College student studying to be a pastor. "He understands a biblical world view. It transcends culture, it transcends society."

Morris said his fear is that "if Obama stays in, we're not going to have an America in four years."

Doris Beachy, 49, a homeschooling mother, echoed others in saying she saw Romney as "the lesser of two evils" compared with Obama. Tony Murrin, 21, said he doubted "Romney's capability to lead the country."

Stephanie White, an 18-year-old student and self-described one-issue voter - antiabortion - said she will have to trust Romney that he now opposes abortion: "I'm going to have faith and take Romney at his word, and if it's not in his heart, that's on him."

Tim Good, the 47-year-old owner of a construction business and longtime Santorum supporter, said he'll "contemplate" whether to vote for Romney this fall. But he hasn't given up on Santorum.

"I hope he runs again," Good said.

at 609-217-8355, mkatz@phillynews.com, or follow @mattkatz00 on Twitter.