Rick Santorum launches presidential exploratory committee

Rick Santorum.

/ CBS

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum has launched a presidential exploratory committee, clearing the way for him to appear at the first debate for 2012 Republican contenders on Thursday evening.

"I am pleased that we have taken this important next step in the process to potentially become a candidate for President of the United States," he said. "The debate this Thursday is a unique opportunity to put forth ideas and solutions to bring our economy back on track, and with Osama bin Laden's death, I look forward to also discussing in depth ways to tackle our many national security challenges."

Santorum needed to file his exploratory committee to qualify for the debate, and he came in just under the deadline to do so. He is expected to appear on the debate stage with Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul, Gary Johnson and Herman Cain. Mitt Romney, who is eligible, is declining to participate.

Santorum, who announced the committee on Sean Hannity's radio show, is an outspoken social conservative who served two terms in the Senate before losing his seat in 2007. A target of the left for his statements on homosexuality (among other issues) while in office, Santorum has largely stood by his positions as he has sought a political comeback. He hopes to win over the socially-conservative Republican primary electorate in key early states of Iowa and South Carolina, where Thursday's debate will be held.

In an interview with CBS News last week, Santorum complained that President Obama "doesn't believe America is exceptional."

39 Photos

Rick Santorum on the campaign trail

[bobnjersey]

[Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum has launched a presidential exploratory committee]
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we need an exploratory committee to explore the depths of delusion that motivate guys like santorum to believe he has a chance at the presidency.

[bobnjersey]

[In an interview with CBS News last week, Santorum complained that President Obama "doesn't believe America is exceptional." ]
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clearly very few feel that way about you as well ... rick.

[brian_norwood]

Santorum? Is this some kind of joke?

[facelessdrone2005]

His exploratory committee should explore Antarctica.

[WeHappyFew]

reluctantzealot, the poster who, without a hint of irony or jest, accused obama of being racist for, you will not credit this,

Intervening in Libya and not Syria because the Syrians are not black enough.

I hate to point this out to you d*ck -for -brains but both Libyans and Syrians are ethnic Arabs.

President Obama's blood line being ethnic Nilo-Saharan African, the fact that he's helping ethnic Arabs is distinctly racially conciliatory.

[WeHappyFew]

Sorry, wrong thread.

[user000049586849302948603]

Santorum exploratory committee: "Would you ever vote for someone named "Santorum"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santorum_sexual_neologism

[pasha128]

The Irish betting firm put odds out on the Republican candidates for president today -- I think Michelle Bachmann had the lowest odds at 28 - 1, Trump was around 33 - 1.

[kansas1946]

Oh yippee. Another boring, clueless, Republican running for the presidency. Anti-woman, anti-family, Sanctimonious Santorum. Yawn.

[askagain]

Sounds like the type of candidate this country needs. That should be good for 60% of the vote. Welcome your next president.

[afmcalax]

He cannot even win re-election in Pa. but he thinks the country is ready for his conservative stupidity. Talk about delusional.

[askagain]

Pennsylvania is not the country. Pennsylvania is a Democratic Party state. Much of America is Republican.

[jennirobbins]

Actually askagain you need to ask for a civics book and read it.Nationwide the majority of registered voters are democrats. It has been a long held belief that the democratic party was more representative of the average working class citizen better known as the middle class, while the republican party was thought to be more geared toward wealthy citizens. Simple math here..there are more middle class working citizens than there are wealthy folks, hence more registered dems.Of course just because there are more registered does not always mean they will vote that way.

[rjstolb]

The first duty of the committee will be to determine if Sanity Boy has enough intelligence to come in out of the rain. Once that's confirmed, the committe can close up shop!!!