Remember Santorum? He Hopes South Carolina Does

Rick Santorum, who is contemplating another run for the White House, is working to remind voters that he was pretty successful last presidential race. At a tea party conference in South Carolina, Santorum reminded conservative participants that he gave the Republican nominee a good run.

"I ended up competing in 30 states and winning in 11. I was the last person standing," Santorum told South Carolina tea party activists.

The former Pennsylvania Senator had little money but forced eventual nominee Mitt Romney to compete in the Republican primary far longer than any observer anticipated. When Santorum officially conceded the nomination in April, after more than half of the states had voted, most thought that would be the end of his political aspirations.

"That's part of the process here - does it feel the same way (as it did in 2012)?"

But Santorum, despite losing his Senate seat in 2006 and the Republican nomination in 2012, is once again considering a bid for the White House. And he thanked the tea party crowd for their sustainability, in what could have easily been a plea for his candidacy: "Thank you for keeping the flame alive."

In an interview following his speech, Santorum seemed truly undecided if he was going to move forward. "There's a lot that goes into running for president. I know that," Santorum mused.

He is fresh off a weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona, organized by wealthy Republican donor Foster Friess, who largely floated Santorum's 2012 campaign.

"Foster is a great encourager. He's such a positive and optimistic guy," Santorum said, adding that he and the assembled group talked about "what a campaign might look like."

"It's just another step in the process," Santorum said.

Santorum said another step in the process is talking to this tea party group in an early primary state. It's the first time he's addressed a crowd since the presidential campaign has unofficially gotten underway. "It's a tough crowd," Santorum noted, because they are very passionate about their beliefs.

Originally posted here:
Remember Santorum? He Hopes South Carolina Does

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