Rick Santorum announced Friday that he would be forming a new outside
political advocacy organization to push for conservative issues.
His announcement comes as
the former presidential hopeful enters the next chapter of his
political career.
"One of the things we found as we traveled around the country is that
people came up to me and said I was out there speaking about things
that gave voice to their concerns … that a lot of people had some basic
anxiety of where America was going," Santorum told Fox News on Friday.
"We wanted to put an organization together that reflected those voices
across America, and we're calling it Patriot Voices."
Santorum said the group would work to push candidates to embrace
conservative principles.
"We're going to be holding candidates responsible, and supporting
them, and of course supporting Mitt Romney and make sure he becomes
the next president and we get rid of the scourge that has been the
bane of the economy and our country, which is Barack Obama and his
administration," Santorum said.
Patriot Voices is registered as a social-welfare organization with the
IRS, meaning it is prohibited by law from expressly advocating
for a federal candidate or donating to his or her campaign. But such groups are permitted to make "issue-oriented" ad campaigns that clearly
favor one side, and can accept unlimited and even anonymous donations
from individuals and corporations.
"It's about the issues that are going to connect with ordinary
Americans who felt out of the political process," the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania said.
Santorum on Friday also looked to downplay speculation of lingering tension with Romney, saying those who suggested his
late-night emailed endorsement of the former Massachusetts governor pointed to a lack of enthusiasm
were off base.
"We wanted it to be in their mailbox first thing in the morning so it
didn't get buried in the middle of the day. We laid it out very
clearly as to why I'm supporting Gov. Romney; the meeting went
exceptionally well," Santorum said.
