Santorum Announces Exploratory Committee

Rick Santorum will be launching an exploratory committee as a prelude to a likely White House run, the former Pennsylvania Senator announced Wednesday night on Fox News.

Santorum has signaled that he would be entering the race for months, via an appearance at CPAC and other Conservative conferences, as well as trips to early battleground states.

He also announced last month that he intends to appear at a Fox News-sponsored Republican presidential debate next month in South Carolina, the first of the 2012 campaign cycle.

Santorum, who lost his Senate seat in 2006, is expected to garner support from social conservatives.

His entry into the race follows fellow hopefuls former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who have both announced exploratory committees.

 Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has also indicated that he will make a bid, but has not officially set up an exploratory committee. Reports have also suggested that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and  former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson will be unveiling their committees in the coming weeks.