Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said he is gearing up to make another bid for the presidency in 2016.
"I'm doing everything right now as if I'm running," Santorum said in an interview with
RealClearPolitics. "So we're moving forward and trying to line up supporters — both grassroots and donors.
"We're talking to folks who might be interested after the [midterm] election to come and help the team, so we're starting to put the pieces together, but we're not going to make the final decision until 2015."
Having finished second behind 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, Santorum suggested that his runner-up status is a strength on which to build a successful campaign.
"Every race I've ever run, when the race was over, all of the experts said, 'Oh, that was a fluke,'" Santorum said. "When it happened early in my political career, it used to frustrate me. Now I just see it for the advantage that it is, and it's a tremendous advantage for me."
He added, "The greatest blessing I've had in politics is being underestimated and overlooked. And it's happening again, and I'm very grateful."
RealClearPolitics noted that five of the last six candidates who became GOP nominees had finished in second place during a previous bid.
Santorum also said he feels he already has a solid foundation for his campaign.
"I know we have a strong base of support, and I think when we have an opportunity to show our message, that base will grow and will be in places that no one will expect," he said.
Santorum was speaking from the campaign trail in South Dakota where he announced his
endorsement of former GOP Gov. Mike Rounds, who is running in a highly contested Senate race.
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