Santorum says his 2016 campaign is “built for the long haul”

DES MOINES - Don't expect former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum to follow fellow Republicans Scott Walker and Rick Perry to the early exit door in the 2016 race for the GOP presidential nomination.

The winner of the 2012 Iowa precinct caucuses sees a path to repeat his come-from-nowhere surprise finish when Iowa Republicans choose Feb. 1 in the kickoff of the presidential selection process.

'I'm very confident,” said Santorum, who has been relegated to the side stage during the first two nationally televised debates due to low support in public-opinion polls. 'I can tell you we're going to be here. I know how to run a very lean campaign. I've done it before and I can do it again.”

Santorum was making his sales pitch to about 50 Drake Law School Republicans when Walker officially suspended his bid, expressing concern the GOP focus has 'drifted into personal attacks” at a time when Americans want a positive conservative message. For his part, Santorum said he is encouraged by the response he is getting from Iowans on his views toward the Iran nuclear deal and the radical Islamic 'apocalyptic death cult” that threatens America, his support for life and traditional marriage and his record of 'shaking things up” in Washington during his past years in the House and Senate.

'I think voters are focusing on their candidates,” he said. 'I don't think every voter is focused on every candidate. I think they have their list of candidates that they are seriously considering and process will work itself out.

'I suspect there may be others who drop out of the race,” Santorum noted.

'This environment I have to tell you is tougher financially than last time around,” he said. 'Obviously the more candidates, a lot more folks are indecisive, holding onto their money, and I get that. We realized that early enough to be able to correct course and put our house in order and I think we're built for the long haul. I know how to run a very lean campaign. I've done it before and I can do it again.”