Dubuque, Iowa (CNN) – As Rick Santorum works to seal the deal with Iowa voters, his campaign is already looking ahead to his next test: New Hampshire.
The campaign has hired two additional New Hampshire staffers since Santorum surged in Iowa polls last week, a turnaround that brought attention and fundraising dollars to his presidential effort. His campaign now employs seven people in the first primary state.
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The number of volunteers calling into the campaign's headquarters in Bedford, New Hampshire has doubled, said State Director Nick Pappas.
As those volunteers make calls to potential primary voters, Pappas said they were finding more and more voters familiar with the former senator.
"We feel a tremendous amount more support in just calling people," Pappas said. "His name ID has gone through the roof."
But the polls show Santorum has a steep hill to climb in New Hampshire. A recent Suffolk University/7News poll showed the former senator with only 3% support in the Granite State, putting him in fifth place among the GOP presidential candidates.
Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney topped the field with 41%, maintaining a wide lead he's consistently held in the state.
Santorum will host 10 town halls in the state this week, where voters head to the polls Jan. 10.
On his last swing through New Hampshire in early December, the former senator held campaign events in each of the state's 10 counties.
On Monday his campaign continued to lay the groundwork for the shift to New Hampshire by announcing the support of five additional state representatives there, bringing his total to 22.
Pappas said several of those officials had called up the campaign to offer their support - instead of the other way around, with a staffer wooing state leaders.
Supporters of the late-surging GOP candidate will watch caucus results come in from Santorum's headquarters in Bedford, New Hampshire.
Those supporters will have help in the run-up to the primary, Pappas said. Dozens of out-of-state Santorum fans plan travel to New Hampshire on their own dime to campaign for the former senator, beginning Wednesday.
Santorum will arrive in the state Wednesday afternoon.
Also see:
Gingrich mulls strategy shift after Iowa
Leading Perry backers head to Iowa for final push
Bachmann: Polls not a good measure of support
Romney goes on offense
From CNN Politics
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his Views will get us all bombed and killed this is why he never could hold office sense 1994 or was it 6
This guy is delusional. They didn't want him in his state. Does he really think he has a chance of winning anything? I think all those kids screaming and yelling must have him wanting to leave the house and continue to campaign just because.
So much froth in this guy's campaign.
How does he do it?
You have to give it to him, Rick Santorum DOES present himself very well. His appearances on the Sunday talk shows were pretty good. He's managed to fly under the radar before the MSM and his opponents could go negative on him like they did everybody else. Very stealthy!
Santorum is not a fiscal conservative but a big government spending establishment Senator who is proud of all his earmarks. He suported Arlen Specter who was the 60th vote for Obamacare !! He has no executive experience just like our current President. He will not be the nominee !!
Unless you want our country changed from a democracy to a theocracy Santorum is not your choice. As a devout Christian I am a firm believer in separation of church and state.
I remember the definition of his name every time he opens his pe-hole
Google it - you'll never look at him the same again. I believe it might be appropriate.
oops - pie-hole - keyboard doesn't register all letters sometimes.
Republican policy (deregulating the financial industry) put the economy in the toilet and they fight all efforts to fix it. Why put them in charge again?
Somehow his "Google Name" and his personality fit together. Did I say "fit together?
it came to light how he did his sick wife and the money obama's people filtered back to him and NOW HE WANTS TO CRY-POOR–POOR THING