TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum brought his message of faith and family to Tallahassee today.
Santorum spoke at the Christian Family Coalition breakfast in a packed ballroom at Florida State University.
He told the crowd America has become divided and struggled with more economic problems because society has gotten away from the fundamental values of faith and family. Santorum cited a report by the Brookings Institute that found Americans have only a two percent chance of living in poverty if they follow three simple rules: get a job, graduate from high school and get married before you have children.
But if you don't do one of those things, according to the report, your chance of living in poverty rises to 74 percent.
"We will never have a strong economy in the future, we will never have limited government, we will continue to be less free unless we revitalize the institutions of faith and family in America."
Santorum said America is different because it was founded on faith. But now he believes faith is marginalized by politicians, courts and in public and the family institution is deteriorating.
He said 30 years ago, 71 percent of people over 18 in America were married. Now it's 51 percent.
Santorum said it's time to revitalize the institutions of faith and family to build a healthy America.
"People have asked me, 'How are you going to bring America together? America is so divided.' It is divided because we don't have leaders who remind us who we are and where we came from."
A new poll shows Santorum trails Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney by more than 20 points in Florida. The state's presidential primary is next Tuesday.
First Coast News