Santorum signs marriage pledge

At first, Rick Santorum says he was “taken aback” by a marriage pledge asking presidential candidates to be faithful to their spouses - though he ultimately signed it.

“When I first read it, I was taken aback by it. I can't argue that I wasn't,” he said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“But I understand why they're saying it," he said, "because it does undermine people's respect for the institution, respect for the people governing this country. If you can't be faithful to the people that you're closest to, then how can we count on you to be faithful to those of us who you represent?”

The pledge is the creation of Bob Vander Plaats, head of the Iowa-based religious conservative group The Family Leader. Among the many requirements, it dictates the candidates vow to uphold "personal fidelity to my spouse."

“I pledged personal fidelity to my wife when I was married to her," Santorum said. "And pledged the same, that I would not involve myself in any other relationships with anybody else who is married. So that's a pledge I've taken and I take every single day when I - as a married person - and feel very comfortable making that public statement."