Santorum cancels Monday events after daughter hospitalized

GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum's campaign announced Saturday that they would not hold campaign events on Monday so the candidate could spend time with his daughter Bella, who was hospitalized last week.

"Senator Santorum will not hold any campaign related events on Monday so that he and Karen can remain in the hospital with their daughter Bella," campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement. 

"The entire Santorum family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support." 

Bella Santorum suffers from Trisomy 18, a chromosomal disorder that is usually fatal in young children, and has been admitted to the hospital twice in the last three months. 

Santorum, who is facing speculation that he may drop out of the GOP race after he was swept by Mitt Romney in three primaries last Tuesday, had intended to take a break from campaigning over the Easter weekend, resuming events on Tuesday.

The campaign had announced earlier Saturday that the former Pennsylvania governor would attend events this upcoming week in his home state and Missouri.

Santorum's campaign has said that a victory in Pennsylvania is "vital" to their hopes of winning the nomination.

Santorum currently trails GOP front-runner Mitt Romney by more than two-to-one in the delegate count and has seen a wave of prominent Republicans back his rival as party leaders seek to end the protracted primary.

Polls now show Romney having overtaken Santorum in Pennsylvania.

---