Former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum kicked off his bid for the 2012 Republican presidential election, announcing his plans in his home state of Pennsylvania.
“They understand that something is wrong,” Mr. Santorum said to supporters. The former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator accused the Obama administration of devaluing “our moral currency.”
“He’s devalued our currency, and he’s not just devalued our currency, he’s devalued our culture,” said Mr. Santorum.
The Pennsylvania Republican, who is coming off straw poll win, focused on President Obama’s health care law, saying it would create challenges for Americans and could cost the country trillions of dollars in spending.
“They wanna hook you, they don’t want to free you, they don’t want to give you opportunity, they don’t believe in you, they believe in themselves, the smart people, the planners,” said Mr. Santorum.
The health care law allows government “to have its clutches to create dependency on every single American,” Mr. Santorum added.
The Pennsylvania Republican is the latest Republican to enter the race. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty also have announced their candidacies. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson have also formed campaigns.
Mr. Santorum has struggled to place well in a number of polls over the past few months, instead traveling to South Carolina and Iowa in an effort to build support for his campaign.
