Santorum adviser insists he will rally behind Romney

(CNN) - John Brabender, an adviser to Rick Santorum, gave more details Tuesday night about the hours leading up to Santorum’s announcement to suspend his presidential campaign.

In an interview on CNN’s “John King, USA,” Brabender said he called Mitt Romney’s campaign manager, Matt Rhoades, Monday night to relay the news that Santorum would leave the race the following day.

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“We had a great conversation. We expressed that the senator would be getting out and that we do want to help the Romney campaign,” Brabender told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. “It was suggested that we have the two candidates talk to each other, which they did this morning.”

He added that Romney recommended to Santorum the two meet soon to talk about “ways in which Rick Santorum could help.”

Responding to questions about Santorum not mentioning Romney in his exit speech, Brabender cautioned people against reading too much into it.

“Rick felt that it was very important to have a narrative that shares why he was suspending his campaign and all the good that the campaign did, and also make it clear that Rick Santorum is going to be a passionate fighter and a loud voice for conservative causes,” Brabender said.

While the rival candidates often engaged in scathing attacks as they battled for delegates, Brabender maintained Santorum would ultimately rally behind Romney in the general election.

“Rick has been very clear from Day One that he would unify behind whoever the candidate is, the Republican nominee, because they certainly are a much stronger and better hope for America than Barack Obama,” Brabender said. “And he will do that right now with Mitt Romney.”

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