IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Rick Santorum cancels visit to Iowa

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum canceled his planned Monday trip to Iowa due to illness.
File Photo: Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum gestures after speaking on stage during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 28, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Today is the first full session of the RNC after the start was...
File Photo: Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum gestures after speaking on stage during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August...

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum canceled his planned Monday trip to Iowa due to illness.

Santorum, who is the chairman of the social conservative interest group Patriot Voices, was admitted to the hospital for gastro-intestinal illness and dehydration while traveling in South Carolina over the weekend.

"He is feeling better today but remains in the hospital and is unable to travel to Iowa," Virginia Davis, spokesperson for Patriot Voices, said Sunday in a statement. "He is expected to resume a full schedule later this week and looks forward to returning to Iowa soon."

The former Pennsylvania senator planned to speak at the spring fundraiser for the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition, a nonprofit group that presses for Christian principles in government. Every election cycle, Iowa is the first state in the country to nominate presidential candidates.

Santorum is a religious conservative who won the 2012 GOP Iowa caucuses by 34 votes. Last week, he told the Des Moines Register that it would be "suicidal" for his party to back same-sex marriage.

His visit was expected to fuel speculation that he is considering a presidential bid in 2016. He recently said he wouldn't rule out another run.