COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham made the following statement about the decision announced today by Senator Rick Santorum to suspend his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination:

“Rick Santorum has run an amazing campaign which exceeded all expectations. He should be very proud of all he and his supporters have accomplished. Rick has shown great passion for fiscal and social conservatism. Most importantly to me, he has also been the most consistent candidate on national security as he fully embraced Ronald Reagan’s model of ‘Peace through Strength.’

“Now is the time to get behind Mitt Romney as our presidential nominee so that every corner of the Republican Party is united. Our party must aggressively pursue the conservative Democrats and independents needed to ensure Barack Obama is a one-term president. America cannot afford another four years of Barack Obama.”

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