Santorum Hospitalized: What Made Former Presidential Contender Cancel Iowa Event?

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., was hospitalized during a visit to South Carolina on Saturday. The former 2012 presidential contender was treated "for a gastro-intestinal illness and dehydration," according to spokeswoman Virginia Davis of Rick Santorum's PAC, "Patriot Voices."

Davis said Rick Santorum was "feeling better" Monday, but would be unable to make it to Iowa, where he was scheduled to make keynote remarks at the Iowa Faith and Freedom conference. Santorum also canceled a trip to the Pope John Paul II Medical Research Institute that was scheduled for Monday.

Even though Rick Santorum had to cancel his Iowa event, the former presidential candidate will likely make a number of return trips to the Midwest battleground if he continues to "leav[e] the door open" as he said regarding a possible 2016 presidential run.

Rick Santorum finished second to eventual nominee Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., after bowing out prior to his home state primary in Pennsylvania, where he was polling extremely close to Romney. Born in Winchester, Va., Santorum grew up in Butler, Pa. and later volunteered for late Senator H. John Heinz III, R-Pa., kicking off his political career.

During recent hearings on the gay marriage issue before the Supreme Court, pundits and activists alike have used Santorum's words as a lightning rod on both sides of the debate. The former senator is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, repeatedly defending the nuclear family and its role in promoting positive social values in American society.

He drew both criticism and praise for a 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer column in which he explained step-by-step his philosophy on the topic.

"Is anyone saying same-sex couples can't love each other? I love my children. I love my friends, my brother. Heck, I even love my mother-in-law. Should we call these relationships marriage, too? Marriage is and always has been more than the acknowledgment of the love between two people."

Santorum referenced the name-calling by his critics and what he called the "crazy uncle at the holidays treatment" he often received from the media and elsewhere whenever he tries to have a serious discussion on the subject.

"I'm just saddened that time has proved right those of us who worried about the future of marriage as the union of husband and wife, deeply rooted not only in our traditions, our faiths, but in the facts of human nature. As Pope Benedict said, 'The cradle of life and love,' connecting mothers and fathers to their children."

With the gay marriage debate coming to the forefront of Supreme Court proceedings and the argument over public funding of abortion practices, the looming question is whether Rick Santorum's message will resonate well enough to make him a contender once again for the Republicans in 2016.