Rick Santorum forms new group to promote his ideals

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

UPDATED 2:27 p.m. ET

(CBS News) Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum launched a new group to work to defeat President Obama and his "radical agenda," according to an email announcing the formation of the new group.

In an interview Friday morning on "Fox and Friends," Santorum said his new organization, Patriot Voices, will support presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney and make sure "Mitt is the next president of the United States."

Patriot Voices is an IRS-designated 501c4 focused on social welfare and allowed to participate in political activity. It joins the fray of outside groups that can raise unlimited funds by individuals and corporations. It has a goal of attracting one million members to "transform America's political landscape."

Santorum, who dropped out of the presidential race in April, said on "Fox and Friends" that Patriot Voices will fill a void and talk about issues few are addressing. His new organization will focus on American "culture and how it's being changed by this administration, whether it's religious liberty or life."

The former Pennsylvania senator also said he will focus on "people left behind."

"Democrats who want to make people more dependent and Republicans who don't seem to be talking about the 70 percent of Americans who don't go to college," Santorum said on Fox.

The new campaign was announced to 300,000 Santorum supporters via email early Friday morning.

At the Chicago Conservative Political Action Committee later Friday, Santorum said he has already begun the process of campaigning for candidates across the country, including Romney.

"We're going to go out and support candidates, in some cases in primaries, but obviously most of the primaries are over so primarily in the general election. And certainly the number one objective to us is to change the ruling powers in Washington D.C., starting with President Obama," Santorum told reporters.

[nygurl1]

Maybe, if we're lucky, some new party will ask him to be their choice for president. Then the reps can split their votes 3 ways and guarantee they lose!

[levelheadedtoo]

The best way for a failed politician to make a good living is to loose a bid for national office or have an affair. Some have done both. Cable news (also know as the main stream)is always ready with that contract and paycheck for any politican willing to sell out their values (right & left).

Anyway, good luck Rick and I don't believe those rumors about the tatoo of a heart with "BFF Mitt"

[BlameRepublicanz]

AWESOME! I love watching this guy...i never want him to go away...the brotherhood of the creationist sweater vests circus rolls on!

[mrsherman]

What is that statement again? If Facism were to come to power in the U.S., it would be disguised in an american flag and carrying a cross. Rick Santorum is too close to that image.

[kevcl6750]

Someone should tell Santorum he is a liability to the Republican Party. Now we have to see his face again just like that other loser Palin. His own state voted him out by a landslide and he still doesn't get it ! For the love of God and Country ,just go get a real job and stop sponging off the rest of us.

[kevcl6750]

Someone should tell Santorum he is a liability to the Republican Party. Now we have to see his face again just like that other loser Palin. His own state voted him out by a landslide and he still doesn't get it ! For the love of God and Country ,just go get a real job and stop sponging off the rest of us.

[omnibus66]

It is interesting and at the same time disparaging that these pugs never have anything of substance to their rants. Outside of wanting the black man in the White House gone, they offer absolutely nothing but hate, bigotry, lies and doublespeak. Romney says he will create jobs, but no specifics as to how. He says he will cut government spending, but again no specifics. I guess that hating Democrats and making rich people richer will fix everything. Dream on.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Santorum... said on "Fox and Friends" that Patriot Voices will fill a void and talk about issues few are addressing.
---
That's because you're about the only one interested in returning to the 19th century, Rick....

[nygurl1]

No, They ALL want to go back to the man rules the roost, mommie stays home and makes babies, schools teach the 3rs and that it!
.
OOP! Forgot! Only the man votes!
Shove it!

[twmat311]

Ricky: Please locate Stepford-ville, plug it into your GPS, and go there. We didn't want you, we don't want you, we will not want you. Do we have to sing it for you too?

[lloydbest1]

Oh....My....Gawd.

If ever there was anything our country does not need, it's an out of touch ex-senator tossed from office by a conservative electorate attempting to craft a culture that never existed in America in the first place. Or if it did, should never have.

I followed his campaign mostly out of morbid fascination, this guy makes Herman Cain and Newt Gee look almost liberal. Attempting to establish a Puritan-like theocracy in the U.S. is rather like wizzing into the wind; Those who try will only embarrass themselves - and get very wet. Yet he never learned from his failed efforts.

Nearly the entire value code he embodies and wants to wish off on the rest of us has no place in our society (nor, IMHO, any other) and virtually every social ill he addressed in his campaign and whose PAC claims to address now has either been proven not to work or unfairly favors a segment of our population who needs no additional privilege.

And that's assuming his intentions are sincere. Like a few other posters on this thread, I suspect he's using this as a personal income source.