Santorum props up candidates in Iowa

Former Sen. Rick Santorum's (R-Pa.) visit to the Iowa state fair Wednesday caps a three-day swing through the state that was mostly spent aiding Republican candidates there. 

Santorum looks increasingly like a presidential candidate in 2012, telling voters at a fundraiser Wednesday, "My message is resonating across the [country]" and touting his "strong conservative record," according to the Ames Tribune. 

A favorite of social conservatives for his strong stances against abortion and gay marriage, Santorum has been flirting with a presidential run for months now and has made several visits to Iowa already this year. 

While in the state, Santorum stumped for Dave Jamison (R), who's making a run for state treasurer and Brenna Findley (R), a candidate for attorney general. 

While social conservatives tend to make up a significant portion of likely Republican caucus-goers, Santorum still has plenty of work to do among probable Republican voters there. 

For what it's worth, an early poll of 2012 Republican hopefuls conducted on behalf of IowaRepublican.com pegged Santorum's support at less than 1 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won Iowa in 2008, led the way with 22 percent of the vote.