Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum announced he is entering the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

"We're in it to win," the former No. 3 Republican in the Senate declared Monday.

Santorum, who lacks the name recognition and fundraising organization of his better-known rivals, has routinely made a weak showing the polls

However, the 53-year-old is popular with social conservatives for his strong views against abortion, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research.

Click play to watch the CBN News report followed by analysis from CBN News Chief White House Correspondent David Brody.

He's also not shy about his views on religion, saying that the separation of church and state is not what the founding fathers intended.

"To me there are truths out there," the blunt-talking conservative said recently in an AP interview. "There are things that are right and things that are wrong. That may not be popular and it may lose you an election, but that's OK."

Santorum has already visited three early voting states New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina.

Next week, he plans to participate in the GOP debate in New Hampshire.