Rick Santorum Sweater Vests Now For Sale! (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Mitt Romney's got his slick suits, Ron Paul has his baggy blazers and now the world knows just how many sweaters vests Rick Santorum owns.

We first noticed the GOP candidate's professor-esque trend in mid-December, when Santorum layered a beige vest over a blousy blue button-down shirt. He has been wearing the Joseph A. Banks item more and more, often with baggy pleated pants and too-big shirts for a look that certainly says "traditional" (or, y'know, "really geeky").

Now, what was probably a guilt little habit has turned into a full-blown phenomenon. You can follow Rick's Vest on Twitter -- the handle is, hilariously, @fearricksvest -- and the New York Times gave the nerdy garment its own feature last week.

So why the sweater vest? We're assuming it started as a misguided attempt at, well, getting dressed in the morning. But now that it's become a sort of weird signature, Santorum has decided to capitalize on all the attention.

When asked by CNN's Erin Burnett about the "Rick Santorum" logo on his gray sweater vest yesterday, the candidate got all excited:

"We're selling 'em now! We're selling them online! You can get them, I think, for... $100?"

When Erin laughs in incredulity at the price tag, Rick explains that it's partially a campaign donation. But it's also partially an opportunity to make an awful pun. He asks a staffer off-screen, "Should I give the line?"

So Burnett makes him say it: "One of my supporters said this is my Second Amendment vest: the right to bare arms."

As Erin says, "So bad that it's good." So bad that you can even get your own!

WATCH:

See the wonder that is Rick Santorum's vested style:

Comments

[Adonijah]

10:01 AM on 01/12/2012

Dude needs some Brooks Bro's or Armani suits. Sweater vests everyday....really tired.

[Quai DOrsay]

02:53 PM on 01/11/2012

Sell em all, Ricky

[Daniel Zook]

12:09 PM on 01/11/2012

Ah I get it. To distinguish himself from the rest of the book sellers, instead, he sells his vests. I guess he IS a completely different candidate.

[BlackYowe]

01:57 AM on 01/11/2012

He is the type who sells snake oil, he is really creepy to even look at.

[dodie1990]

09:42 PM on 01/10/2012

How could you sup[port a cndidiate who wants to outlaw birth control, yet won't pay welfare for all the extra kids?

[Daniel Zook]

12:11 PM on 01/11/2012

Hermain Cain and Newt already outlined that.

"If you don't have a job, it's your fault" -Hermain Cain

And we all know Gingrich wants to get rid of the child labor laws.

Republicans: the party of extreme "Personal responsibility"

[DirtEF3ckinDozen08]

08:34 PM on 01/10/2012

Santorum couldn't run a self serve gas station, let alone run this country. You want years and years of the same nothing.. vote for Ricky and the other stooges.. don't let the corporate media decide for you who becomes our next president.. if you want real change.. sound money.. a banking system not controlled by the criminal Rothschilds.. less government.. less taxes.. a stronger military.. safer and more secure borders.. jobs.. no wars.. a stronger economy.. peace.. prosperity.. a America we can all be proud of again.. and most importantly provide a future for our children.. then vote for RON PAUL 2012!!!!

[manmi1]

08:06 PM on 01/10/2012

Somehow, unless nerds of the world take over, I don't think Santorum will be fashion icon. He is creepy on all levels. He's like the guy who keeps sacks of candy in his car to give little kids a ride.

[Steve Beldner]

08:02 PM on 01/10/2012

I thought we was just selling his soul>

[gerald1961]

07:41 PM on 01/10/2012

I would rather have someone throw hot grease on me then pay $100.00 to wear anything that hateful little toad put his stamp on. The guy creeps me out.

[Zandra61]

06:29 PM on 01/10/2012

I admit I had never heard of Rick Santorum until now. I admit, I am enjoying getting to know him. All negatives aside, what I have seen is a very likable, very knowledgable, easy going man that seems to love to debate. He stands right up there and does not back down. I like seeing the candidates in a more lay back setting. Able to joke with a number of people, make fun of himself, and have the ability to joke with others without being rude. The vests... I hope he keeps wearing them and having fun. Life doesn't always have to be so serious. We all need to laugh more, smile... and have the right to bare arms.

[ninjacb]

07:00 PM on 01/10/2012

well i am happy for you that the repugnant party's potential candidate brings you such joy. i wonder how you would feel if he were president and able to control you or perhaps your daughter or granddaughters body. i also wonder how much joy you would experience when the social security check doesn't arrive in the post, the doctor bill is no longer covered by medicare, your prescription medicine has tripled in cost and is not covered by any federal subsidies. or how about if you had a gay family member who was going to be disenfranchised by the government if santorum had his way. i wonder how much joy and fun you would be having knowing your banker is paying less in taxes than you. the right to bear arms is your constitutional right. but supporting a misogynistic, homophobic, duplicitous politician like santorum just makes no sense. and in fact makes you look foolish.and there surely can be no fun in that.

[manmi1]

08:07 PM on 01/10/2012

Either you've been living in outer space or have either toked or smoked too much.

[salfa1154]

06:15 PM on 01/10/2012

he must need money for his campaign.

[Herecomedajudge]

06:09 PM on 01/10/2012

At least he's original.

[jimlatp]

06:03 PM on 01/10/2012

Be just like your favorite candidate, RICKY S*

*h0 mo pho b_ic mindset sold separately.

[Jonathan Kenny]

05:56 PM on 01/10/2012

capitalism gotta love it ,when you socialist on the huff post read this and when you responsed can just one person do it ,ur filling up my email ,i mean you all get your talking points from the whitehouse

[Herecomedajudge]

06:02 PM on 01/10/2012

You mean "thinking points".

[ppswg]

06:13 PM on 01/10/2012

NO, WE GET IT FROM USEING OUR BRAINS, WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN RIGH AND WRONG, UP AND DOWN, DUMB AND DUMBER....POOR JONATHAN, BLESS HIS HEART.

[Kebert Xela]

05:41 PM on 01/10/2012

Penn Hills Pennsylvania called they DON'T want their idiot back! He was voted most likely to deny his true sexuality in his yearbook. How do you vote for someone who believes in Noah's Ark?!