Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has also dropped out of the Presidential Race, just after Rand Paul has done the same. In 2012 Santorum was the surprise candidate of the year, as he won Iowa and became the main challenger to Mitt Romney. Santorum had high early hopes for the 2016 race, but unlike last time around, he never managed to connect with the voters. The lack of support led to low levels of fundraising and polling, and constant relegation to the second tier debates. With Santorum out of the race, only 9 candidates remain in the Republican race, and will try to get the most votes in New Hampshire on the 9th of February.

While four years ago he was a champion of the workers and the people who saw Mitt Romney as just another rich man lying to them, this time around he campaigned for Christian vote and made family values a key focus in his strategy. He tried to reform his Evangelical coalition from four years ago and build on it, but he too was surprised by the rise of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, and just like Mike Huckabee was left powerless.





Santorum immediately endorsed Marco Rubio, which is just the latest sign that Marco Rubio is now firmly the preferred candidate of the party, as over the last couple of days Rubio collected several endorsements and had big financial intakes. He now leads in the Endorsement Primary too, and will most likely be the one to take on Ted Cruz and Donald Trump going forward. And after that will face either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in the general election.





Santorum didn't have a lot of resources in New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina either, but his support could be important for Rubio. But New Hampshire anyways will be a key decider in this race, as several more candidates are expected to drop out. Likely, there will only be one viable candidate to continue from the basket of Christie, Kasich, Carson, Fiorina and Gilmore. Maybe two, but that is a big question. Other than Trump, Rubio and Cruz, Jeb Bush is expected to continue at least till Super Tuesday, as he has a great ground presence, local support and endorsements in both South Carolina and Nevada. Plus money in the bank.





While the Republicans are slowly narrowing their fields, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton took part in a CNN Town Hall Debate yesterday, as Clinton is trying one last time to close the gap in the state. However, it is probably already too late for here there.



