Republican Presidential 2012: Santorum Gives Nod to Iowa in Speech. Rick Santorum suspended his campaign Tuesday afternoon, outlasting many expert predictions. “I walked out after the Iowa Caucus victory and said, ‘Game on,’” Rick Santorum gave a nod to Iowa during his speech Tuesday. He spent more time in Iowa than any other candidate to kick start his presidential campaign. It worked; he won the Iowa Caucus. Even if only by 30-some votes, it propelled him onto the national stage. “People of Iowa who voted for him really did have a sense that they knew who he was as a person,” said Rachel Paine Caufield, an associate professor of politics at Drake University. “They trusted him, and they really liked him. So in that sense, I think Iowa did give him a boost even before he was declared the winner.” Santorum kept up momentum winning 11 states throughout the primary season, but a few factors weighed heavily enough to have him call it quits. “As a candidate who is running out of money, as a candidate who has personal concerns to attend to and family concerns to attend to, and as a candidate who is strategically looking ahead at the states that are coming up, I think this was a wise decision,” said Paine Caufield. Santorum has been losing ground in his home state of Pennsylvania. That state’s primary is two weeks away. He said his journey has been nothing short of miraculous. “Miracle after miracle this race was as improbable as any race that you will ever see for president.” “He did surprise me,” said Paine Caufield. “I think he surprised most …. Republican Presidential 2012 – Gingrich Campaign Quits: clips and 2012 Republican presidential political election clips, featuring 2012 Republican Presidential contenders, political reports, GOP general election, fundraising, and even election 2012 surveys.