Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania on Monday formally launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.
Speaking in Somerset, Pa., Santorum, who won a conservative following during his two terms in the Senate, hammered President Barack Obama on both economic and social issues.
"He's devalued our dollars and now he's devalued out other currency, our moral currency,'' Santorum said about Obama.
The former senator from the Keystone State attempted to contrast himself with Obama.
I'm ready to lead, insisted Santorum. I'm ready to do what has to be done for the next generation, with the courage to fight for freedom, with the courage to fight for America."
Santorum played up his Italian roots, releasing a web video on his grandfather who immigrated to America.
First elected to the Senate in 1994, Santorum served two terms before losing to Democratic candidate Bob Casey Jr. in 2006.
During his two terms, Santorum amassed one of the most conservative voting records in the Senate on social issues, leading the fight against abortion and supporting the teaching of the intelligent design theory of human creation.
Santorum also supported the Iraq war and opposed efforts to expand same-sex marriage.
Since losing to Casey back in 2006, Santorum has remained active from his perch at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a think tank with ties to many conservative Catholic intellectuals and policymakers. Santorum has also been one of the most visible of the possible Republican candidates in some of the early states, having paid more than 40 visits to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Still, despite this recent momentum and visibility in the pivotal early battlegrounds, Santorum has work to do to catch up to the national front-runners as he lags behind other candidates in the polls.
Other candidates, who have already launched bids of their own or are still considering running, include former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, businessman Herman Cain, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, activist Fred Karger, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, former Alabama state Chief Justice Roy Moore, former Gov. George Pataki of New York, U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan and U.S. Rep. Peter King of New York.
Reach Kevin Derby at k derby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 727-0859 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
