candy

Rick Santorum Set to Deliver Jelly Belly Address

Photo: Jelly Belly

Tonight, Rick Santorum will deliver a foreign-policy-focused speech at Jelly Belly’s California headquarters. Apparently, the venue choice is not the result of some weird exercise in self-underming, but a tribute to Ronald Reagan: “Reagan, who famously kept a jar of the candies on his desk in the Oval Office, regularly received Jelly Belly shipments during his tenure as California governor and even sent the first jelly beans into space on the 1983 Challenger shuttle.” The company has returned the Gipper’s love over the years, frequently donating to Republican candidates and causes, and recently distinguishing itself as one of a small handful of corporations to donate to (in this case, conservative) PACs in the wake of the 2010 Citizens United decision. Following Santorum’s remarks, the factory will host a $1,000-a-head fund-raising dinner for the candidate. Despite the admission fee, we hope attendees will still shout “free candy!” upon entry. 

Rick Santorum Set to Deliver Jelly Belly Address