Santorum Readies Presidential Bid

Antigay former U.S. senator Rick Santorum announced that he is taking formal steps toward a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

The New York Times reports that in an appearance on Fox News Channel's On The Record, Santorum said he had opened a presidential fund-raising committee and filed papers with the Internal Revenue Service, which will allow him to solicit contributions. Four Republican hopefuls have so far started raising money.

"Mr. Santorum has been aggressively reaching out to social conservatives in early voting states," reports the Times. "He received an initial showing of support by winning a straw poll last week at a Republican convention in Greenville County, the largest county in South Carolina."

A two-term senator from Pennsylvania, Santorum lost his reelection bid in 2006. His new campaign slogan is "Fighting to Make America America Again."