Why Rick Santorum STILL Hasn’t Released Delegates

Although Rick Santorum has dropped out of the 2012 election, the former presidential hopeful still hasn’t released his delegates to this summer’s convention, reports Politico.

“I haven’t done anything as far as releasing anybody,” Santorum said Friday prior to his speech at the Chicago Conservative Political Action Conference. “I want to make sure that our delegates have an opportunity to come. A lot of, many of these folks were great volunteers and workers for us and I want to make sure they have the opportunity to experience that convention.”

Previously, Santorum was reluctant to let go of the 281 Republican National Convention delegates (197 of which who are officially bound to him) that he had gained over the course of his failed campaign. Prior to his endorsement of Mitt Romney, the release of his delegates seemed contingent upon his search for a candidate who would “keep faith and traditions alive in the country.” As of April, he seemed dead-set on hanging on to his delegates for some unknown purpose, saying, “Our delegates will go to the convention and have a say and an impact,” continuing, “We want them to continue to reflect the things our campaign stood for and present a strong conservative voice at the convention. We must have a candidate who will keep faith and traditions alive in the country,” and coldly adding, “Vote the way you want to,” to those flocking to the polls.

But hey, it’s June, what is Santorum still doing in the wings of the 2012 election?

His announcement of his formation of a political group called “Patriot Voices” could have something to do with it. The group supports Romney, and is rallying for a conservative candidate for the House and Senate. “What do I call winning eleven states? Just the beginning,” Santorum said in a video message on the Patriot Voices Web site. “Because by staying together you and I can amplify our voices and change America. The top of that list, of course, is defeating Barack Obama and taking back the White House. But it’s also critical that we help elect conservatives all across this country and monitor everyday to make sure they stick to our conservative principles.”

So Santorum isn’t looking at a late power-play, though he definitely wants to have a say in the election.

“We want to make sure that we have folks who stand by the principles that are the basis, the basic principles of our party and our platform, that we have articulate voices there at the convention to make sure if there is a fight that we’re armed and ready to engage the fight,” he said Friday.

He doesn’t even want to use his delegates as collateral for a speaking position in Tampa’s RNC. “That’s for the RNC and Governor Romney to decide who’s going to speak and when they’re going to speak. If I’m on the speaking list that’s great. If not, that’s fine too,” he said.

So let’s get this straight… Santorum is holding onto his delegates so he can be Romney’s groupie? Sound off below!