Rick Santorum Launches Grassroots Group, Patriot Voices [VIDEO]

It seems ages ago when Rick Santorum suspended his presidential campaign in April, leaving Mitt Romney to be the sole front-runner for the Republican nomination.

Santorum, however, has not disappeared, and neither has his sweater vests. In an email to supporters and a YouTube video released Friday afternoon, the former presidential candidate said he launched a grassroots and online organization aimed at promoting and electing officials with the family and fiscal values that were hallmarks of his campaign.

Together you and I shocked the world, Santorum said in an introduction video to the new group, Patriot Voices. Not only did we win Iowa and 10 other states, we framed the Republican message, and we showed that conservative values are alive and well all across America.

We can amplify our voices and change America. The top of that list, of course, is defeating Barack Obama and taking back the White House, Santorum said. It is also critical we help elect conservatives all across this country and monitor them every day.

Santorum stood out among the field of Republican contenders earlier this year for his socially conservative values, including his vocal opposition to abortion and gay marriage. He often slammed Mitt Romney for flip-flopping his stance on economic policy and accused him of inspiring and helping implement Obama's health care overhaul, which he describes as socialist.

Patriot Voices aims to recruit one million members to fight for faith, family and freedom. Santorum outlines the group's belief system in the e-mail, titled Big Announcement.

• Believe that family is the foundation for a healthy society and a strong economy
• Believe in freedom and American exceptionalism, entrepreneurship and opportunity, and personal responsibility
• Seek to be a voice for those who often cannot find for themselves: the unborn, the disabled, the elderly, and those struggling economically in these difficult times.

With our one million members united in Patriot Voices, we can drive the defeat of Barack Obama in November, offer support to candidates who will stand up for conservative values, and continue to transform the political landscape of our country, continues the e-mail.

Although it is free to become a member and sign up for the e-mails, monetary donations offer free swag and perks. A $25 donation, for example, or Sentinel, gets a person a lapel pin, pocket constitution and invitations to special online events with Santorum. $500 Patron donation comes with all that plus signed copies of his books, a Patriot Voices Sweater Vest, a t-shirt, and exclusive access tio regional and national events.

It's too early to tell how much Patriot Voices will take off. When Herman Cain suspended his campaign at the end of last year, he launch Cain Solutions, a nation-wide bus tour and grassroots effort aimed at promoting his 9-9-9 tax plan and other fiscally conservative talking points.

Other than a few wacky anti-Obama videos that hit the internet, Cain has largely disappeared from the spotlight.