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Santorum expected to end 2016 run

Rick Santorum is expected to end his presidential run and throw his support behind a rival candidate tonight, according to aides.
Republican presidential candidate and former Senator Rick Santorum is silhouetted against the backdrop during the undercard debate held by Fox News in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 28, 2016. (Photo by Carlos Barria/Reuters)
Republican presidential candidate and former Senator Rick Santorum is silhouetted against the backdrop during the undercard debate held by Fox News in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 28, 2016.

Rick Santorum is expected to end his presidential run and throw his support behind a rival candidate during an appearance on Fox News Wednesday night, according to aides.

The decision, first reported by CNN, would make Santorum the third Republican to end his campaign since Iowa. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul also left the race this week.

Santorum, who won the Iowa caucuses four years ago, finished near the bottom of the crowded GOP field on Monday, earning the support of just one percent of Republican caucus goers.

RELATED: Trump: ‘Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he stole it’

It was an insurmountable blow in the state that helped launch his surprise challenge to Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012.

Despite his success in 2012, the former Pennsylvania senator failed to gain traction in the polls and was relegated to the undercard debates his entire campaign. The evangelical voters who previously fueled his Iowa victory split their votes between candidates like winner Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, real estate mogul Donald Trump, former pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Santorum also struggled to raise funds. His latest campaign financial report showed him with less than $50,000 cash on hand.

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com