Surrounded by his wife and family members, Republican Rick Santorum made the announcement at 2:34 p.m.. "This presidential race is over for us, for me," Santroum announced. "We are not done fighting."

The announcement would appear to clear the way for Mitt Romeny to sail to the Republican nomination for President.

In a long statement that ended in the announcement Santorum, the conservative former Pennsylvania senator said his daughter Bella's hospitalization over the weekend prompted him and his family to pray and reflect on the decision.