(CNN) – Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney released a statement shortly after opponent Rick Santorum announced a suspension to his campaign on Tuesday, praising Santorum for his presidential bid.
"Senator Santorum is an able and worthy competitor, and I congratulate him on the campaign he ran. He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation. We both recognize that what is most important is putting the failures of the last three years behind us and setting America back on the path to prosperity," Romney said in the statement.
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Santorum spoke to Romney prior to his announcement Tuesday, according to a Republican source, but did not mention Romney in his speech.
An endorsement of Romney, however, "is not a inevitability," Santorum's spokesman Hogan Gidley told CNN.
He added Romney's campaign reached out to Santorum's team to schedule a meeting and discuss a possible endorsement.
"Mitt would like it to happen sooner rather than later," Gidley said.
– CNN Anchor Ashleigh Banfield contributed to this report.
Also see:
Poll: Nearly three-quarters of Republicans see Romney as nominee
Romney: I speak with Gingrich more than Santorum
Romney campaign pulls negative ad while Santorum halts campaigning
From CNN Politics
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'...back on the path to prosperity', eh Rick? Prosperity for whom, the already-rich?
Oh, I forgot: they're the "job creators". It'll just be another couple of trillion bucks and the jobs will flow again like wine, right?
you mean, the failures of the past decades since Reagan leading up to the culminating tanking of the economy due to unsound economic policies. Focusing on the past 3 years is just an anti-Obama move and nothing else and should be transparent to any American with a brain.
Says the man who only knows how to run a dirty campaign.
Bring it on Willard. Saint Santorum is out and the rest of those losers will drop out soon. Shake your etch-a-sketch and tell us some new bs you've come up with.
Endorsement? After all that name calling? Please, I want a nice world.
I find it funny how Romney says "the failures of the last three years". I guess he forgot that the "failures" began long before three years ago when George Bush was President.
Romney is an excellent parent, husband, has a solid education, a Harvard MBA/JD, international experience, and makes good decisions for good results. He lacks charisma at times, unless he is speaking of his family, faith and nation. Charisma doesn’t pay the bills. I know he will solve a lot of America's problems and what he lacks in charisma will be made up with results, he has been doing that his whole life.
While I have always supported Mitt Romney, it's hard not to feel for Rick Santorum. He is doing the right thing for his family. You have to admit that he ran a fantastic campaign with few dollars and he made an attempt to connect with every possible voter.
Ah yes... all is forgiven in the name of party unity.
We both recognize that what is most important is putting the failures of the last three years behind us and setting America back on the path to prosperity," Romney said in the statement.
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Americans are ready to get out of this partisan political mess that Washington has become in the past 3 years and just work together for national progress. Obama is not that guy. Not even close. We can do better.
Romney/ Ryan 2012
Good bye Obama Nov 2012
Romney could possibly win if he was a Christian. Nobody will vote for a non-Christian.
Hey Dems, Easy to blame Bush but remember it was the Dems that ruled both the house and the Senate under Bush and it was only in 2010 when Republicans took back the house. The Senate is still Democratically ruled and under Obama spending has increased more than under all POTUS combined. So you all keep blaming Bush. It is getting old and stale. If that is the best Obama has....to bad so sad!!!
Romney/Rubio 2012
In the event of Santorum demise, I personally know of many supporters that will now shift their support to Obama. Romney obviously thinks he will just automatically inherit Santorum supporters. He will find out exactly where they went come election day.
Karl Rove and his band of right wing haters are going to"hold their noses" and back Mitt Romney and one thing Rove is good at is using "fear and smear politics" with facts and honesty not being all that important. Along with their Pravada called FoxNews the attacks on not only the president but even his wife will begin. Get ready for an ugly campaign.
Bill: The president says the fate of ObamaCare should not be decided behind closed doors by a small group of people who were not even elected.
Bob: Remind me Bill, what is Obamacare?
Bill: Oh, it's Obama's plan to have ALL our fates decided behind closed doors by a small group of people who were not even elected.
xcallousx
I find it funny how Romney says "the failures of the last three years". I guess he forgot that the "failures" began long before three years ago when George Bush was President.
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I'm glad to see at least you agree that the last three years have been a failure. We could talk all day about GWB's influence, but Obama is the only one of the two who is trying to get re-elected. GWB was taken down by something Obama will never need to worry about. Term limits.
Romney/ Ryan 2012
Anyone who thinks the last 3 years were successful for Obama is fooling themselves. Every metric is worse than it was prior to Obama. Nearly $1 trillion stimulus – and what were the results? . What happened to hope and change? Zip. Things have gotten worse. Expect more of the same from Obama in another term. This time, let's hope FOR change. Socialism under Obama would hurt everyone.
How about the failures of the last 11 years? Hmmmmm? As to Mr. Santorum, he will be offered the VP spot to appease the evangelical right & tea party just as Reagan made Bush his sidekick in 1980 to appease the moderate wing of the GOP back then. Will it work? maybe. The American electorate can be awfully guilble at times!
Why can't democrats ever take any responsibility? It's not that I believe Bush had a great presidency, but I haven't heard him bickering about Clinton not even once. Obama needs to understand he can not keep blaming Bush forever, it's time to stand for his presidency, it's getting late...
Not looking forward to the additional months of negative ads and personal attacks by Team Romney on the president.
Obama has been a total disaster for our country and big stain on our consciousness........ashamed to be an American .....
If Mittens becomes President then I really will believe that the world will end on December 21, 2012.
Man – the right wingers really get out-numbered by the Libs on all these comment boards...must because the Republicans are actualy working so they can continue provide for those that don't feel like working.
Go MITTENS : )