Rick Santorum attracts his first congressional endorsement

Seven months after launching his White House bid, Rick Santorum has attracted his first congressional endorsement.

Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) told the Hill this week that he has endorsed Santorum, but he claimed that his backing came a while back.

“Right after he first announced [his White House bid], I had a conversation with him. He certainly had my support,” Thompson said. 

But that endorsement, up until now, has received no press attention. Furthermore, it has not been announced by the Santorum campaign.

Mitt Romney leads in congressional endorsements with 62, followed by Rick Perry (13), Newt Gingrich (10) and Ron Paul (3), according to The Hill’s tally.

Most of the Pennsylvania Republican delegation has not endorsed in the presidential primary. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), however, has backed Romney.

Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.), the freshman lawmaker who served as Santorum’s campaign manager in 1994, has remained neutral.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) is the only lawmaker who has contributed to Santorum’s 2012 war chest. Gohmert has not endorsed in the primary, but is likely to do so later this year, a source said.

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