Rick Santorum Drops Out of Presidential Primary Race, Suspending Campaign
[Image: Screen capture of Santorum and family on April 10, 2012.]
The presidential campaign of former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) came to an end today at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
With his family behind him on stage, Santorum said he made the decision with his family in recent days.
“We made a decision over the weekend that, while this pres race for us is over,” he said, announcing that he is suspending his campaign, “we are not done fighting.”
Talking about his successes, he said that people asked him, “How were we able to come from nowhere?” He was a “witness of” people’s aims for the country, he said, and “miracles” happened with his primary wins.
“We have tried to be a witness not just for your story or your voice but to try to bring a positive message … reflecting the hopes of Americans, not the fears of Americans.” He pointed to his attempts to address “radical Islam” and a “sluggish economy.”
His also noted that his campaign was about “the moral enterprise that is America.”
Despite the news today, he did note the victories that he had achieved over the course of the primary — beginning with his surprising victory in Iowa, which was initially called as a win for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), the presumptive presidential nominee for the Republican Party. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) remain in the race, though they trail Romney substantially.
“Against all odds,” Santorum said today, “we won 11 states.”
He went on to talk about his aim to help the Republican Party win the White House, take control of the Senate and keep control of the House.
Without mentioning Romney by name, Santorum took no questions before leaving the stage.
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