(CNN) – Rick Santorum vowed to stay in the race Friday, saying his lighter-than-usual campaign efforts in Florida were no indication of plans to drop out of the running.
"There hasn't even been a discussion, not even approaching a discussion to discuss a discussion, as to whether to get out of this race," Santorum said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." "We're in this race."
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The former Pennsylvania senator said his team had begun hiring staff in states that hold contests in March and April, though he did not name the states.
Santorum will return to Pennsylvania for fundraising events Friday and Saturday but said he'll be back on the trail in the Sunshine State by Saturday night.
Saying his campaign had just gotten its "sea legs" in terms of financial support in the last few weeks, the candidate stated his team has raised twice as much money since the beginning of the year as he did in the previous nine months.
"I believe we're going to win this," Santorum said. "It's going to be an opportunity for us to be able to rise and be the conservative that folks have been looking for in this race."
A new Quinnipiac survey released Friday showed Santorum in a close race with Texas Rep. Ron Paul for third place in Florida. The poll showed 12% of likely primary voters were backing Santorum, while 14% were supporting Paul.
The candidate directly attacked the two Republican frontrunners in the race during the CNN/Florida Republican Debate Thursday night, causing some political observers to question whether Santorum was dampening his potential for a possible running mate pick or cabinet position.
But the candidate said he's only interested in one job.
"I have no desire to be anything in anyone's cabinet or anything else," Santorum said. "I'm not making this sacrifice…to do anything but be the President of the United States."
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So, Ricky Sanitary, how are you any different from George Bush? You're not? Then why would anybody vote for you? You are? Well, why don't you rail against Bush, who caused all this mess instead of Obama, who's gone a long way toward cleaning it up?
I'll start to listen to the first Repugnant who comes out and admits that Bush was an abject failure who should be in jail for war crimes. Otherwise, I can't hear a thing they say.
uh sorry Ricky but no you're not!
The GOP candidates are all going after the crazy voters. That may get them the GOP nomination, but will lose them the general election in November.
Sorry, most people have totally forgotten who he is!
He might not allegedly want to be in anyone's Cabinet but he certainly wants to be in someone's kitchen if he drops out of the race. He'll want to be one of the cooks for victory and in fact be one of the large dishes in the right hand side in the Cabinet. And I suspect he wants to be a large dinner plate.
Wow, he must be really high.
"We're in this race."
Till Super Tuesday, Rick. Then it's on to 5 or 6 months of breathless waiting to see if Mitt picks you for VP, interspersed with occasional denials of interest when the media asks if you're interested.
We're all really looking forward to it.
Who's more delusional? This flaccid field of failed clown car candidates? Or their mindless, fact-free groupies who spout their propaganda here on CNN?
Santorum: I oppose talking to people....lets just take out the regime! I know what people want....they dont know what they want! And if they dont invite us...we will just overthrow their government! They will have to accept our terms of "peace and democracy". If we are to be the worlds leader of peace....then By God, i will kill anyone in my way, that doesnt agree with me" How can America let other countries be friendly with one another....That will not be tolerated! You will be our ally wether you like it or not! Or we will destroy your counrty in the name of peace!
F you Sanitarium! You are NO leader...you nut job! I do not support world war III....go fight it yourself!
What a Putz. I wouldn't want him anywhere near any position of power.
Got his money by suing a chiropracter for $500,000.
Rick is one angry guy , wouldn't want to be one of his kids !
Rick Santorum sues chiropracter
Obama is on the job, while these clowns are playing the Prez is making it happen,,,
Chrysler Group LLC will announce next week it will hire more than 1,600 workers to an Illinois assembly plant, signaling the start of a hiring blitz that promises to add thousands of workers to the auto maker's plants over the next three years.
Obama 2012 keep it up, we are comingt back...
so in other words, wasting everyone's time, money and votes!
The case involved the wife of Sen. Rick Santorum (R‑Pa.), who sued for half a million dollars, claiming that, according to the "Prime Time" report, "a botched spinal manipulation by her chiropractor led to back surgery, pain and suffering." Karen Santorum claimed she suffered humiliation from weight gain and no longer had the confidence to help her husband on the campaign trail. Even though her subsequent medical bills totaled just $18,000, the jury awarded her $350,000 for her pain, suffering and inconvenience.
Thanks for the info on Sen. Rick Santorum (R‑Pa . Karen Santorum claimed she suffered humiliation from weight gain and no longer had the confidence to help her husband on the campaign trail . WOW ,WHAT A SCAM .
Under Santorum everyone gets free health care!!!! No??? well he said it was wrong to charge people for health services if you do not have health insurance... Obviously FREE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE…cannot believe Wolf missed such an obvious challenge to Santorum…never mind Santorum does not have a response regarding pre-existing conditions…Oh wait he, does… his response..too bad, but with free health care, NO PROBLEM.. Doesn’t that make Santorum a socialist?
It's so interesting watching Republican primaries. They spend so much time showing how conservative they are, then during the general election they have to come to the middle. Conservatives confuse me? That's the beauty with being a liberal or moderate candidate; you can be liberal on one issue then flip over to having a more conservative economic position and it will be ok with your base. Conservatives forget that they are running to get a government job and they end up spending their career trying to downsize the government that provided their job. Santorum could not be trusted to come to the middle, where as Romney will probably fit right in...Newt not so much, he's super crazy for either side of the aisle.
i was in a lot of races in high school track
I can't find words to describe this character!! The LEADER of the clown parade!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
This is shaping up to be one bizarre race. I'm not sure what to think of the right anymore. It seems so awkward and strange.
Santorum is the only true conservative in the race.
Hence the hatred. True conservative candidates make libbie and moddie heads explode.
Mark my words, he will drop out after Florida as he is running out of money do to the lack of real supporters. Where as Ron Paul is just getting warmed up with plenty of money and supporters. Just wait and see.
Look dude.. go home! Its O V E R! I can't wait till the goop finally pick one of their whackos so Pres. Obama can crush them in the debates! It gonna be great entertainment. I hope they make dvds so we can watch it again and again woohoo!!
He did sound the most relaxed and intelligent, but he and his wife are WAY too religious for me. Thanks, but no thanks. Why does there always have to be a deal-breaker when it comes to a decent Republican candidate? A middle-of-the-road third party is long overdue.
It is over for Santorum. If he stays in the race he would just ensure that Romney gets to lose to Obama in November. Think about it, conservatives. You can't even stop a Massachusetts moderate in the Republican primary, what makes you think you will win in November? Have you noticed that today Obama leads Romney by 3 point in Rasmussen poll and 6 points in NBC/Wall Street Journal poll? And Obama leads Gingrich by 7 and 18 points? Yes, Rasmussen and Wall Street Journal conducted the poll.
"There hasn't even been a discussion, not even approaching a discussion to discuss a discussion, as to whether to get out of this race,"
Dr. Seuss would be so proud!!
More of the same......................RON PAUL 2012!
He's still running? I thought he dropped out about the same time Bachman did. Who knew?
the GOP has issues with both Mitt and Newt, yet I don't see them coming out in full force to back Ricky either. I thought if anything Santorum would do better in SC than he did seeing the type of folks that live there but he failed to do so. His message of social issues just is not what most people in this economy care about right now. If President Obama when elected had 7 kids half of them home schooled I would bet he would have been attacked by the right for being not responsible for having so many kids. Rick can get away with it of course but that really doesn't matter he'll never move into the White House anyways. He can perhaps blame the 'blah" people for that.
Say goodnight now Rick and save yourself all that money. You are a first class nut job of the far extreme right and the American people have no taste for your brand of politics or governing ideas, your lack of believing in science or your weird views of the world and the bible.
No, you're not....
No Ricky, you're really not in the race. Take a pill and try and pull yourself into reality.
Well,I hate to break it to you buddy! You shouldn't be! Just go home!
sorry kiddo, the party's over for you. At least the one for President of the U.S. Maybe you should hightail it over to the Vatican; maybe you could use your skills in the next Inquisition.
This is classic === Santorum is out of votes and running low on money == he is staying in to do one thing, pull votes from NEWT. A vote for Santorum is a vote fro ROMNEY!
If you see Santorum get a key position after all this you will know this was a buy off to shield him from NEWT.
The establishment is working overtime.
Santorum needs to take a chill pill before the vein in his neck or forehead burst. Dude looks like he's constantly one twitch away from blowing a gasket.
Get lost, Rick. You have even less chance than that crazy Gingrich. You are wasting your money and the country's time. We are just about sick of the clown car of Republican candidates that have been presented this year. Although, since I am an Obama supporter, it has been rather amusing, but enough is enough. The nominee will be Mitt, and that is that. He is the only one of you who does not seem crazy. You've had your chance, now go home!
Slip n Sliiide on out the race Santorum lol!
The Holy Rick Santorum beleives alof of things other people should follow, though he himself is exempt from such things. Such is the life of a proseletyzing hypocrite.
►Santorum: 'We're in this race'
More so NOW because ginGRINCH proved he is a disgrace
So I don’t mind hanging around while ginGRINCH implodes
I’ll be the next “Flavor of the Month” but this time, remain on the high road!
Santorum: 'We're in this race'
***********************
Ummm, no you're not. Sorry to break it to you in a place like this.
Mr. Frothy is sticking around to drive up the price Karl Rove will pay him to leave. Either that or he's already getting money from Rove to siphon votes away from Newt. It's all wonderful theater in Rove's Plan to Elect the Next Neocon Robot.
it makes rick feel good to be in the final 4. hey that 's good enough reaso to stay in.
Rick's major campaign contributor, K-Y JELLY, is pulling out just as Santorum started slipping down the poll Now the Newt is on top of the poll. Santorum needs another thrust from behind to get back up on the poll and Mitt is just the guy to do it.
If Santorum really believes he is going to win, he is delusional. You can't win a party nomination getting single or low double digit results in a primary.
All anyone needs to know about our political system is embodied in Rick Santorum. How this disgusting, narrow-minded, war-mongering, religious bigot, Dark Ages thinking cretin was ever elected to Congress shows how utterly stupid the voters of Pennsylvania were for several years. When they finally woke up, he was defeated in a landslide. We don't need him anywhere near the White House period.
I've never understood why Santorum never really got traction in the GOP. Well, he did get some traction in Iowa but he had to put so so much time into that. Being liberal myself I don't like his ideas, there is no war that he doesn't want to start, a give all the money to the rich so they can help the poor plan for the economy and a my church's moral values should be everyone's value approach. Even though I don't support these ideas, they are ideas I thought Republicans would like. But they apparently don't. Why? The only thing I can come up with is that he doesn't look the part. He doesn't seem to have the demeanor or physicality of an alpha male. That can't be it, can it? Conservatives, help me. Why don't you vote for this guy?
lol what a nerd..... No one wants him not even his wife!
This guy has gone from amusing to downright scary. He is delusional and so completely out of touch in his views (intervention in other countries no matter the cost or lack of justification, big government intervening in private family issues, demonization of anyone who deviates even slightly from his point of view, etc., etc.) that we should all be very afraid of him, no matter which side of the aisle you're on.
Santorum was tossed out by his own state and quite handily, too. He is not wanted in his own backyard let alone by America on a national level.
This is a guy who brought his still born infant home to show his kids. He couldn't have brought them to the hospital?? I have the greatest sympathy for their loss but that action alone is so utterly creepy (and probably illegal) that we should question this man's sanity.
He is an egomaniac bent on shoving fundamentalist Catholicism down our throats via legislation. He is truly dangerous and he makes 43 look awesome (and sane) by comparison.
Really??? Did any of the posters actually see the debate? Rick (Not Ricky) is easily the most focused, informed and presidential in the bunch. His comments were directed to the issues that we all should be concerned with and I personally liked his stand on government bailouts of "too big to fail" corporations.
If you think militant religious fanatics, of ANY faith, want to hold hands and sing Kumbaya around the campire, you're delusional. While a core belief in goodness in your fellow man is a admirable quality, it requires a more realistic response to those that wish to cause your family and fellow man harm.
Romney strikes me as a puppet and Newt overzealous and headstrong. While I agree with some of Paul's ideas, his car runs off the road on foreign policy.
If you are uninformed, please leave the political discussions to the grownups!!!!
Sorry Rick but the asylum is looking for you. Your delusion of being POTUS is almost over.