Santorum heading to Iowa for religious conservative summit

Santorum will address the Family Leadership Summit, an event co-hosted by The Family Leader, a powerful organization of Iowa social conservatives, as well as Citizens United, Heritage Action, and the National Organization for Marriage. The summit’s focus is on putting principle ahead of politics on gay marriage and other social issues.

{mosads}”I am greatly looking forward to speaking at this year’s Family Leadership Summit. This gathering of conservatives provides each of us with an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss the path forward as we tackle the moral and cultural challenges facing our country,” Santorum said. “The Family Leader has provided exceptional leadership on these issues, and I appreciate the opportunity to join them for this year’s summit.”

The group’s co-founder, anti-gay marriage activist and former Iowa gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats, endorsed Santorum before the 2012 Iowa caucuses and gave the former senator a big boost on his way to winning the state.

Santorum has made a number of trips back to Iowa in the past year.

The group has also invited a number of other potential presidential candidates: GOP Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), as well as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), and Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R).