It’s safe to say that most, if not all, of the 2016 Republican presidential field will oppose raising the federal minimum wage. It’s also safe to say that the entire Democratic field — such as it is — will support raising the minimum wage. That’s why Rick Santorum’s position on the issue could be an important part of the 2016 GOP debate.

Santorum, who says he will decide whether to run in the next few months, argues that such a small percentage of Americans actually make the minimum wage — 2.6 percent of all workers and just 1.1 percent of workers over the age of 25, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — that raising the minimum wage would not have a catastrophic, or even a significantly negative, effect on the economy. While opposing hikes he believes are too large — including President Obama’s proposal last year — Santorum believes there is a “sweet spot” for an increase that would both benefit workers and not harm the economy.