Former Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, who waged a bitter but unsuccessful battle for the nomination against Mitt Romney this spring, has released the delegates he won during the primary to the former Massachusetts governor.
See also:
- Rick Santorum's Endorsement of Mitt Romney
- Why Rick Santorum Quit His Presidential Campaign
- Republican National Convention Speakers
The 255 committed delegates won by Santorum during the primaries are free to throw their support behind Romney at the Republican National Convention, which begins in Tampa this week. The move by the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania is a mere formality; former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who also sought the nomination, released his 138 delegates earlier in the week.
"I am pleased to share the news with my supporters that I am releasing my delegates in support of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan so we can go in to next week's convention united and committed to defeating Barack Obama in November," Santorum said in a written statement to the media late last week.
"This is our opportunity to energize our party with a strong, conservative ticket. I look forward to making the case on Tuesday night for Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan, because I believe their conservative policies will put our country back on a path to prosperity."
Santorum has been given a prime speaking spot at the convention.
[Photo: Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum/Getty Images News]
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