Santorum founds political advocacy group

WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- Rick Santorum said Friday he was forming an outside political advocacy organization to advance conservative issues.

"Conservatives can mobilize & affect change in our nation!" the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and one-time Republican presidential hopeful said of Patriot Voices on his Twitter page.

"We are a grassroots community of Americans from across the country committed to promoting faith, family, freedom and opportunity in our nation," the organization's Facebook description said.

Patriot Voices supports candidates and elected officials who believe the United States is "one nation under God and all we do must be consistent with the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights."

"We believe that the defeat of Barack Obama, and those who support his policies, must be our first priority," the Facebook entry said.

Patriot Voices is registered as a social-welfare organization with the Internal Revenue Service, The Hill said. Such groups are permitted to make "issue-oriented" ad campaigns that favor one side and can accept unlimited donations from individuals and corporations.

The IRS Web site said the social-welfare designation means it may engage in some political activities, so long as those activities aren't the organization's primary activity.