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Published December 23, 2015
Presidential candidate Rick Santorum suspended his presidential campaign Tuesday afternoon during an event in his home state of Pennsylvania.
"We made a decision to get into this race at the kitchen table, against all the odds," Santorum told reporters in Gettysburg Tuesday afternoon. "And we made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over, for me, we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting."
In the wake of Santorum dropping out of the race, Mitt Romney becomes the undeniable frontrunner to become the GOP presidential nominee.
"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," said Romney in a statement released shortly after Santorum's announcement. "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."
However, the other two candidates in the race are vowing to stay in for the long haul
"I am committed to staying in this race all the way to Tampa so that the conservative movement has a real choice," said Newt Gingrich in a statement. "I humbly ask Senator Santorum's supporters to visit Newt.org to review my conservative record and join us as we bring these values to Tampa. We know well that only a conservative can protect life, defend the Constitution, restore jobs and growth and return to a balanced budget."
The Ron Paul campaign also took the opportunity to remind everyone that the libertarian leaning congressman from Texas has no plans to drop out.
"Congratulations to Senator Santorum on running such a spirited campaign," said National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton. "Dr. Paul is now the last - and real - conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. We plan to continue running hard, secure delegates, and press the fight for limited, constitutional government in Tampa."Before Santorum publicly bowed out he called privately to concede to Mitt Romney, but the former Pennsylvania Senator made no mention of Romney in his remarks, leaving political insiders and reporters to wonder if there is still bad blood between the two men.
Fox News Chief Political Correspondent Carl Cameron and Producer Joy Lin contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/santorum-suspends-presidential-campaign