Former Pa. Senator Rick Santorum hospitalized due to illness

USPA News - Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who lost the race last year to become the Republican Party`s presidential candidate, has been hospitalized in South Carolina after falling ill while traveling, forcing him to cancel scheduled events, his office said on Sunday. Virginia Davis, the former senator`s spokesman, said Santorum became ill while traveling on Saturday and was hospitalized at an undisclosed hospital in South Carolina.

It is believed he is suffering from a gastrointestinal illness and dehydration, but his condition is not believed to be serious. "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," Davis said, referring to two events which had been scheduled for Monday. "He is expected to resume a full schedule later this week and looks forward to returning to Iowa soon." Santorum had been expected to attend a lunch with the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Des Moines on Monday afternoon. He would have then traveled to Urbandale where he was to deliver a keynote address at the 13th Annual Spring Kick Off of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition. The events were part of Patriot Voices, a non-profit organization that Santorum launched last year with a mission to mobilize conservatives who seek to promote faith, family, freedom and opportunity. Santorum suspended his presidential campaign in April 2012 after it became clear that opponent Mitt Romney would become the Republican Party`s presidential candidate.