One-time GOP presidential contender and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) is cancelling a trip to Iowa after being hospitalized for an illness.

“While traveling in South Carolina on Saturday, Rick Santorum became ill and was admitted to the hospital for a gastro-intestinal illness and dehydration,” said Virginia Davis, spokesperson for Patriot Voices, Santorum’s political action committee, in a statement.

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“He is feeling better today but remains in the hospital and is unable to travel to Iowa on Monday, April 15 for previously scheduled events. He is expected to resume a full schedule later this week and looks forward to returning to Iowa soon," she added.

Santorum, the runner up to Mitt Romney in the 2012 GOP primary and the winner of that year’s Iowa caucuses that year was slated to speak at the Iowa Faith &Freedom Coalition Kick Off on Monday.

Santorum was planning to speak on the “future of the Republican Party,” and “economic and social priorities,” according to Patriot Voices.

The scheduled speech in the first-in-the-nation caucus state had raised speculation that Santorum was looking ahead to a 2016 presidential bid.

Santorum has not ruled out another run, telling CNN last month “certainly we want to keep our name out there in the mix. It’s something that I’m open to.”

“But obviously it’s a little too soon to make any concrete decisions,” added Santorum.