The 2012 Republican presidential dropouts: Where are they now?

The six major GOP candidates who dropped out of the presidential race may be gone, but they aren’t altogether forgotten.

Rick Perry is wading into a Senate primary in Texas. Herman Cain is crisscrossing the country supporting candidates who have embraced his 9-9-9 tax plan.

Tim Pawlenty, the first major candidate to call it quits, has been an active Mitt Romney surrogate, while Rick Santorum, the most recent candidate to bow out, has been playing it coy.

Michele Bachmann is still on the campaign trail, but this time her goal is not the presidency but reelection to the House from Minnesota, where she faces opposition from multiple candidates.

Speaking to a meeting of GOP leaders Friday in Scottsdale, Ariz., Romney, now the de fact nominee, commended each of his current and former opponents by name.

“Some [are] still running, some have gotten out of the race, but each contributed to the process,” Romney said. “Each is going to play a vital role in making sure we win in November.”

Just half of the candidates who have dropped out of the race have endorsed Mitt Romney, while the rest have endorsed Newt Gingrich or remain on the fence.

Here’s a look at what each candidate has been up to since dropping out of the race:

Pawlenty | Perry | Huntsman
Cain | Bachmann | Santorum

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