Rick Santorum

Richard John Santorum (born May 10 1958), commonly known as Rick Santorum, is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990 from a suburban Pittsburgh district and to the U.S. Senate in 1994. Santorum is a Republican who currently is chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the number three job in the party leadership of the Senate. In recent years, Santorum's comments and public statements, especially on social issues such as same-sex marriage, have made him a highly controversial figure. He is running for re-election in the November 2006 elections. He announced in 2005 that he would not run for President in the 2008 election.

2008 U.S. presidential campaign

On July 25 2005, in an interview with the Washington Post, Santorum said does not intend to run for president in 2008. "I have six children ages 4-14. And the idea of coming off a race of the intensity that I am engaged in at this point and turning around and running another two-year campaign for president is not something that I believe is in the best interest of my family," Santorum said, referring to his 2006 campaign. "I can't speak for other politicians but I can speak for me, and my intention is not to run in 2008."

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July 25 - 2005 - Washington Post

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Many believed this statement to mean that he was definitely not going to run in 2008, but Santorum later said "I wouldn't say the door's — I mean, OK, it's not locked and bolted, but the door itself is closed. It's just not locked". http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/12273498.htm

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Santorum told reporters "The reason I leave this little window open is because I have no idea what's going to happen between now and 3-1/2 years from now". Santorum said it would take "a strange, remote set of circumstances" to get him to change his mind. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/12240203.htm

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