DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is showing signs of entering the 2012 presidential race by hiring consultants in the key early state of Iowa.
Santorum announced Friday Nick Ryan and Jill Latham, two well-connected Republicans with the Concordia Group in Des Moines, will be advising his political action committee, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
His media strategist, John Brabender, also said a well-known national operative is likely to be hired this week.
Ryan and Latham both have ties to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, considered a strong Republican contender for the presidential nomination next year.
Steffen Schmidt, a political science professor at Iowa State University, said hiring them shows Santorum is serious about contesting Iowa, and that Romney may skip the caucuses there and bet everything on the New Hampshire primary.
"The secret in Iowa is if you think you want to play, you've got to get in there early, especially when the field is going to be huge," Schmidt said.
Ryan also is a founder of the American Future Fund, an influential conservative group. UPI
