Santorum gets first non-home-state congressional endorsement

Rick Santorum has received his first endorsement from a congressman not from his home state of Pennsylvania: Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) is backing him, Santorum's campaign announced Friday morning.

"In Rick Santorum we have a leader who reveres America's founding principles because they are his foundation, a leader who understands the importance of manufacturing to economic growth because it is his history, and a leader with proven front-line success standing for freedom, for fiscal integrity and against Washington corruption," Aderholt said in a statement released by Santorum's campaign. "Rick Santorum has never just talked the talk, but he has walked the walk — inside and outside the halls of Congress. Rick Santorum has never just fought for the 1 percent, the 95 percent or the 99 percent of Americans, Rick Santorum has fought for a better future for all Americans. I am proud to endorse Rick Santorum for president."

Aderholt is the fourth House Republican to endorse Santorum. Mitt Romney, by comparison, has 77 lawmakers backing him. He's also the first congressman to serve with Santorum who's backing him — Santorum's other endorsers all were elected to Congress after he lost his reelection bid in 2006.