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Subscribe to RSSPHILADELPHIA, PA - Speaking from the hospital room where he said his ailing 3-year-old daughter is making a "miraculous turnaround," Rick Santorum said that he would resume his campaign on Monday with stops in western caucus states.
"She went through a very tough time the last 48 hours and this afternoon she made really a remarkable turn," Santorum told voters in Florida and Minnesota, via two tele-town halls Sunday night, of his daughter Isabella, who was rushed to the hospital the night before after developing pneumonia in both lungs.
Santorum said that Isabella, who also suffers from the genetic disorder Trisomy 18, was still in the intensive care unit and was not ready to be released home, but that doctors were encouraged by the improvements made over the past few hours.
"We've still got a long way to go here but she has without a doubt turned the corner and we are very, very grateful," he said.
Santorum had cleared his Sunday schedule in Florida to be with his daughter but will be back on the trail tomorrow afternoon with stops over the next two days in Missouri, Minnesota, Colorado and Nevada, all caucus states. He will not be back in Florida before its election on Tuesday, having cancelled an event in Boca Raton scheduled for that morning.
Instead, Santorum will hold a primary night party in Las Vegas, an indication the campaign has pulled its stakes from the Sunshine State where a recent NBC/Marist poll had Santorum in a very distant third place.
In fact, turnout at a Sunday afternoon event in Sarasota - at which Santorum's daughter Elizabeth filled in for her dad - served as an indicator to the campaign as to whether they would continue to stump in the state through Tuesday's primary. The rally, held in the same venue where Newt Gingrich drew more than 3,000 people, had a scant showing of fewer than 250.
Santorum also seemed to have already moved beyond Florida during the call with Minnesota voters in which he emphasized the importance of caucus-style contests to his campaign.
"We want the activists of the party, the people who make up the vast part of the Republican Party, to have a say in who our nominee is as opposed to a bunch of people who don't even identify themselves as Republicans picking our nominee," Santorum said, noting that only registered Republicans can participate in a caucus.
"I believe that a state should only allow Republicans to vote in a Republican primary. Why? Because it's the Republican nomination, not the independent nomination or the Democratic nomination."
Santorum refrained from making such a pro-caucus statement in Florida, which holds a primary, albeit a closed one in which only Republicans can vote.
"This is an election that's wide open; This race isn't going to be decided in Florida, it's not going to be decided for quite some time. But Florida can have a big say," he said to voters on the first call.
And while he didn't handicap his finish in Tuesday's primary, Santorum still predicted he would finish strong in the Sunshine State, thanks to an increase in donations which he said began after his victory in the Iowa caucus was confirmed.
"We're going to come out of Florida I think with a pretty good number, certainly dollars per votes we're going to run rings around the other candidates," Santorum said, referring to the amount of money candidates spend in a state divided by the vote percentage they receive.
A decent showing in Florida will allow him, he continued, to "come into states like Minnesota, Colorado and some of the other states that are having their caucuses and primaries and be in a much better position."
Santorum said he was hoping to "do very well" in Minnesota, adding "we're looking forward to getting up there tomorrow and spending a lot of time and trying to get folks in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes to join us."
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Message to Santorum - America does not like dumb backward religious nuts.
Black liberation theology and "Damn America" is the religion of the anti-American progressive party????
john...I wish that were truly the case. Given the number of "dumb backward religous nuts" that get elected to state offices (particularly in the southeastern US) I would say that at least a portion of America is duped into the same stupity.
Actually, I don't believe the Democrats have ever claimed to be representative of any religion. Unlike the far right, they understand and respect the principle of separation of church and state.
Actually, most of the conservative, ignorant, bible-thumping, south-eastern US does.
How "convenient". Maybe just another "pity party" to catch a few more of the bigot votes?
Rick - Glad to hear your little girl is better, but it's time to wake up and smell the granola - you don't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination much less the general election. Go back home and stay there.
Rick, if your daughter has a short time on this planet like you sad she did then you need to spend all that time with her. GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT AND GET YOUR A$$ BACK HOME AND BE WITH YOUR BABY GIRL!!!!
Good luck to your daughter. Trisomy 18 can be a very nasty disorder.
However, please drop out of the race. You are NOT Presidential material.
Rick Santorum is one scary individual.
I am dismayed at his not going home to be with his family, but I understand that if he doesn't, its simply more campaign fodder for him to toss out to the American public.
If his daughter passes away, then it works out well for him. Either way, he is a winner in his own eyes.
I find that very sad....for his family most of all.
His daughter should Google: Santorum. That'd cheer her up. Or make her throw up. Like her father does everyone else. Rick Santorum makes Jesus puke.
Rick, quit wasting your time and money, and take care of your daughter.
Why are we even talking about Rick go home and quick making a fool of yourself
Mr. Santorum I'm glad that your daughter is doing much better and I'm sure that it is at least in part do to your faith. As for your campaign, I would advise you to follow your heart to its natural conclusion and ignore some of the partisan opinions that are being expressed here.
Santorum uses his children as campaign weapons - as does Obama and the rest. Despicable.
EVERYONE in the world has baggage. I just want someone with the least baggage running against omabama....we MUST get his baggage out of office immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the hell is a Santorum anyway?
I'm certainly happy that Santorum's little girl is better. Many things trump politics and children are one of them. I do question the "miraculous" part of her recovery. We seem to have a low bar for miracles. It happens it sports all the time, as well as numerous other places. Perhaps we're confused because there is no such thing as miracles. Just a thought, but I'm certainly pleased that her body's healing abilities and the medical care she received were effective and wish her a speedy recovery.
To all Liberals,
You believe that government should not play a part in a womans decision to abort or not and you fault Santorum for this. What gives you liberals the right to take the life away from a child in order to protect the mother? There is no logical sense in the matter of abortion. You kill babies and say that you are protecting the mother. What about the child? Why do you not have the same compassion for the child as you do the mother?!?! There is no logical sense in the matter and you liberals will eventually have to answer for this. You all disgust me.
thanks for your illogical rant which disgusts me.
But if the mother can't afford to take care of the child, you complain that she is on welfare.
If the mother can't afford a child she should use birth control. If it's too late for that, there is always adoption.
Murdering God's gift to you is not an option.
Hey Corky, God spoke to me last night and he said " To all conservatives BUTT OUT I GOT THIS. This is between me and the women that have freedom of choice because I created them that way. Stop acting self-righteous and do something to help under privileged kids"
@Corky....you and all the conservatives that are against all types of abortion even if it is to save the life of the mother have no right to decide who lives or dies. The mother's life is important too!!! Who are you to tell us that the lives of the mothers are less important than the baby they are carrying? I have two daughters......THEY ARE MY BABIES! And I would go to any length to save the lives of my daughters. It should NOT be up the the government whether they live or die!
If my daughter were seriously ill from birth, I would be spending all of my time with her. The presidency will always be here (maybe not in the best interests of the country), but your child may not be. Rick, drop out now, take care of your family, and if you feel the need to run again, there's always next time.
Santorum can do the nobel thing here be noble like Perry and insure Newt a viable chance at Florida and the nomination. I believe you to be good honest conservative but not yet a leader. You would make a fantastic VP under either Romney or Newt. Unite the clans.
Another reason for strict birth control.
This little girl wasn't expected to live 3 months, yet now she's going on 4 years... I do find it Hypocritically funny that a 'FAMILY MAN" like Scrotorum, can fly all around the nation like an overly paid Social butterfly while his family and Sick Daughter get to Watch him form home, oon TV , trying to get a Job that will take away nearly Every Ounce of Private family time .... he would rule this country like a theocrat ... it says a few 'smart' things that have rubbed off on him over the years, but I am suspect that he doesn'[t really beclieve half of what he says.. he just want the opportunity to tackle all his "GAY" issues.. that are always seeming to sizzle.. just under his skin ... like an itch .... while he doth protest ad Nausium about Gay issues.. me thinks, perhaps , he Protests too much ...
I really glad his daughter is doing better. I feel sorry for anyone who loses a child before their time.
Santorum actually believes that other peoples' relationships care impact his relationship. In my mind, that means you don't have a very strong marital bond.
The only reason he wants to be president right now is to appoint a SCOTUS justice.
well , he would probably appoint Robert Bork, assuming that old stodgy fossil is still alive
It's a good thing he has health insurance - unlike a lot of Americans.
Gay rights, free health-care, income redistribution, an atheist country, free abortions, government control of corporations...did I miss anything? Liberals are like leeches, they suck the life out of their host and then find another.
You missed a lot judging from you comment! Lukewarm must be your brain temperature!!
@Lukewarm...........Affordable health care, affordable education, corporate regulation to prevent the raping of Americans for their own financial gain, religious FREEDOM for all, Liberals sound like better Christians than many of the religious radicals in our country.
key2joy Says - Hey Rick HOMOPHOBIC Santorum (meaning you're probably Gay), didn't your wife live in SIN with a 60 year old ABORTIONIST for 6 years when she was 22? Didn't she take a friend to get an ABORTION saying, it's not that bad and just how would she know? You REEK of the FROTHY FECAL MATTER Google speaks of and so does your HYPOCRISY. Probably GAY?... You accuse someone of things based on your beliefs and then YOU call THEM hypocrites??
I have to believe that the world would be better off without the poisonous attributes such as yours that are so pervasive... so much for natural selection. Your disdain for humans and venomous attributes speak to your own REEKING of FROTHY FECAL MATTER... your sanctimonious outrage and your profain utterances if you want to use my quotes why don't you have the balls & contact me speak to the essence of your soul and the quality of your moral fiber.
One has to wonder why ANYONE would want to contact you when in your own vanity you speak evil of others in such feebly orchestrated attempts to bolster yourself "sincerely HOPE your daughter recovers quickly, however, with you being such a devout Christian and all, I wonder why God allowed this to happen." Your only credit is to yourself and you offer nothing to humanity... ok, maybe I overlooked the value of rotting fecal matter... fertilizer does have its benefits so maybe you are good for something after all.
I find it funny that you people give sympathy to him and his daughter , and yet just the other day he basically told a woman that because her kid had cancer that it was her fault and she should have to pay higher health expenses because she didn't choose to take her son to the doctor sooner, and the day before that he said that he rather have a kid spend his whole life in foster care, than to have two healthy stable homos adopt them, and that having a parent in jail is better than having two homo parents, don't get me wrong I'm a nice compassionate person , but I'm sorry he doesn't get any of my sympathy or compassion the only ones I feel sorry for is his children for having such a despicable, selfish, ignorant, arrogant father, maybe his daughter is better off without him, he is not a man by any means, he is just another insecure , bigot with a lot of money, people say you should show some respect , you should have compassion , but dick Santorum has yet to show any respect or compassion for anybody but himself and people like him, so why should the general public have compassion for him now, just because his daughter is sick, respect must work both ways, religion doesn't belong in politics pure and simple , his beliefs should be kept private.
Is she on government assisted healthcare?
Pneumonia is a dangeous sitruation, especially when the patient is a frail child. I`m thankful the little girl is improved, but she is still in ICU. Santorum should focus on the child and wait till 2016 to run. He is plenty young yet. There are other political opportunities. But there is only one Isabella.