GETTYSBURG, Pa. (CBS) – Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign.

Senator Santorum appeared at a hotel room in Gettysburg on Tuesday afternoon where he made the announcement.

“We were very concerned about our roles as being the very best parents that we can be to our children,” Santorum said. “We made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over, for me, we will suspend our campaign effective today. We are not done fighting.”

Listen- Raw Audio Of Santorum Announcement



The announcement came a day after Santorum’s daughter Bella was released from a Virginia hospital. Bella, the youngest of seven children, suffers from a rare genetic condition called Trisomy 18. She was hospitalized Friday. It was her second hospitalization in recent months. She had been hospitalized in January with pneumonia.

Senator Santorum gained traction in Iowa shortly before the January 3 caucuses and tied former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney in Iowa, before going on to win 10 more states.

“Against all odds we won 11 states, millions of votes,” said Santorum, who said he found more support and a deeper love for this country than he could imagine. “It was a love affair for me, going state to state, and seeing the difference. I care deeply about where this country is going and the people who are feeling left behind or hopeless.”

Santorum became the conservative alternative to Romney – who then picked up speed and gained a delegate lead to secure wins in Ohio and Michigan.

Santorum’s move to suspend his bid removes the last significant obstacle in Romney’s now all-but-certain march to the Republican presidential nomination.

All of the candidates took to Twitter Tuesday, Romney posted: “Senator Santorum is an able and worthy competitor, and I congratulate him on the campaign he ran.”

Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul both vowed to stay in the race. Gingrich released a statement saying he’s committed so the conservative moment has a choice. Paul’s campaign says the congressman is “the last — and real — conservative alternative” to Romney.