Washington (CNN) - Rick Santorum's presidential warm-up act will take him Tuesday to a house in New Hampshire that's certain to be a frequent stopover for Republican contenders ahead of the state's pivotal 2012 primary.
The former Pennsylvania Senator will visit the Manchester home of Ovide LaMontagne, the Jim DeMint-backed conservative attorney who lost last year's Republican Senate nomination to Kelly Ayotte by just 1,500 votes.
But LaMontagne plans to remain a player in New Hampshire politics by hosting a series of house parties with Republican presidential hopefuls under the banner of his "Granite Oath" political action committee.
LaMontagne has said his PAC will throw its support behind a candidate before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary - an endorsement that any White House contender wanting to shore up his or her conservative bona fides would be eager to have.
Santorum, who is making his eighth visit to New Hampshire as a potential candidate, will be the first of the 2012 field to attend one of the house parties this evening. The dark horse candidate will also visit with Republicans in Bedford on Tuesday and Wednesday.
LaMontagne backed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2008 primary but told NHJournal.com last week that the 2012 cycle will be a clean slate.
From CNN Politics
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he doesn't stand a chance in you know where of winning the general election but would love to see either him, the quitta from Wasilla, or Newtie win the nomination
Poor, Rick still doesn't get it. We kicked his sorry backside out of his PA senate seat after one sorry term. Now he expects to run a nationwide campaign?
Maybe he would like to speak about the health care system that they have and the system that DON'T want you and me to have!
Well, they kicked out in Pennsylvania, so logically he's going national? GIVE US A BREAK, and a real contender G.O.P..
he supported the mitt, and he lost.........expect the same result for the one with the half of one percent support, stupid at its best.....
God, don't let this freak win!
Does this man really think he has as much of a chance of being picked to run for president as a snowball in hell? Delusional!
Dear Mr. Rick Santorum- save your money or donate it to a charity instead of wasting it on this vanity "run" for president. You are totally unelectable and you can't run a country with anti-gay attacks. I'm sure Ronald McDonald houses could use the money.