Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum | featured news

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, in what may be a grim development for his campaign, has lost the lead in his home state of Pennsylvania to front-runner Mitt Romney, according to a poll released on Thursday.

The Rick Santorum campaign is formally calling on Newt Gingrich to drop out of the race and endorse the former Pennsylvania senator, following Tuesday night's three-primary sweep by Mitt Romney. Santorum's communications director Hogan Gidley made the statement during a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC.

The former Pa. senator leads among likely GOP voters back home, but nearly 4 in 10 could change their minds before the April 24 primary.

With less than a week to go before Iowa caucuses, former Pennsylvania senator's strategy of traveling widely in the state appears to be paying dividends, as he shows up in polls as a top-tier candidate.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, once the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, said Monday he's seeking the GOP nomination for president to protect American freedoms under threat from President Barack Obama.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is expected to make his 2012 run for the White House official June 6th at the Somerset County Courthouse in southwest Pennsylvania.