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BY TRACY PFEIFFER

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

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He says he’s “in it to win it.”
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum brings the number of officially-announced Republican presidential candidates to seven.

The Catholic father of seven went on ABC’s Good Morning America Monday for the big announcement -- followed by an official event in Pennsylvania. (Video: ABC)

Santorum received a shellacking in his 2006 Senate re-election bid, losing to his Democratic opponent by almost 20 points. So if you’re unfamiliar with the name, NBC’s Today sums him up like this...

NATALIE MORALES, TODAY SHOW ANCHOR: “The 53-year-old has enjoyed support from social conservatives because of his opposition to abortion, gay marriage, and embryonic stem cell research.”

And the loss in 2006 has already been an issue for Santorum. Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos quoted a viewer question on the subject, and here’s the former Senator’s response:

RICK SANTORUM: “What people are looking for is someone who has stood by their principles in good times and in bad. And 2006, I think by everybody’s estimation, was a pretty bad time for a Republican and particularly for a conservative in states like Pennsylvania. And I stood up and I didn’t back away.”

Despite Santorum’s optimism, CBS’ Jan Crawford says -- it’ll be a long road.

JAN CRAWFORD, CBS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: “I think he’s been making some inroads among those social conservatives. He spent a lot of time in South Carolina. But he’s gonna have a very difficult time going against someone like a Tim Pawlenty, who’s been out there, he’s got a very energetic campaign already. And if Sarah Palin gets in the race, Rick Santorum will have an extremely difficult time.”

But The New York Times makes note -- Santorum isn’t only about social issues.

“He is so well known as a crusader against abortion and same-sex marriage that it may surprise some voters and the news media that his interests in the Senate also included national security, foreign policy and entitlement programs. ...His core message now is his belief in American exceptionalism, a philosophy that he says President Obama does not share.”

Finally, a writer for the LA Times says -- Santorum’s biggest challenge won’t be getting his views out -- it’ll be convincing people he can actually win.

“He barely registers in national polls, and a new survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that less than half of Republican-leaning voters had heard of him, despite his two terms each in the House and Senate. ...other candidates - such as former Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts - are expected to have broader appeal.”

If you’re losing track -- along with Santorum, officially-announced Republican candidates are Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, and Gary Johnson.

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