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Santorum Sweater Vests Made In MN, Manufacturer Says

BEMIDJI, Minn. (WCCO) -- A Minnesota sweater manufacturer claims he is filling an order for 1,000 sweater vests for the Rick Santorum presidential campaign.

The sweater vests have been picking up media attention in Santorum's bid for the Republican presidential ticket in this coming November's election.

Santorum even had one on during his stop in Luverne, Minn. Monday.

Bill Batchelder, of Bemidji Woolen Mills, says Santorum's campaign team caught wind of their popularity after a number of supporters asked where they could get one of their own.

The campaign team used to buy sweater vests and get them embroidered locally when they made stops, Batchelder said. But then one staffer suggested they make sure the sweaters are American-made.

According to Batchelder, the staffer suggested Bemidji Woolen Mills. Now the company is working four knitting machines for nine hours a day to fill a 1,000-vest order.

The company is also embroidering them with Santorum's name.

Batchelder said they hope to crank out from 50 to 75 every day until the order is filled.

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