Former Senator Richard John Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who made his presidential campaign official, spoke with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News' Good Morning America about his campaign and his record in the Senate, the State Column reported.

Santorum made his GOP (Grand Old Party, traditional nickname for the Republican Party) presidential campaign official on Monday, pitching himself to supporters here as the antidote to big government and President Barack Obama’s agenda, the Washington Post reported.

We’re in this race and we’re going to be in it to win, said Santorum to ABC News' Stephanopoulos. But even as he got into the race, Santorum faced many tough questions from Stephanopoulos that were notably skeptical of his presidential prospects.

Santorum faced a question about his campaign's chances for success given a recent Gallup Poll showing Santorum trailing the other Republican candidates. What people are looking for is someone who has stood by their principles in good times and bad, said Santorum.

The former Pennsylvania Senator continued to defend his record by saying that 2006, I think by everybody’s estimation, was a pretty bad time particularly for a Republican. I stood up and I didn't back away, said Santorum.

Santorum is pitching himself to those voters as an uncompromising fighter. Thus far, Santorum is the only current or former senator to enter a race full of governors, House members and other candidates. Santorum enters the 2012 race as a long shot, but he has a history of scoring political upsets, especially his victory in a 1994 Senate race, the Washington Post reported.

During his 12 years in the Senate, Santorum fought to privatize Social Security, reform welfare and reduce abortion rights. He plans to emphasize such efforts, and his work on foreign policy, during his presidential campaign, as he bids to secure the social conservative base and then build upon it, his advisers told Washington Post.

Stephanopoulus, at the end of their conversation, asked Santorum about his claim that al-Qaeda and others extremist elements aren't afraid of President Obama. While Osama Bin Laden and much of al-Qaeda’s senior ranks are gone, the U.S. is appeasing its other enemies like the Iranians and Syrians, Santorum replied as quoted by the State Column.

Santorum’s campaign website contends that Rick Santorum was one of the most successful government reformers in our history, taking on Washington’s powerful special interests from the moment he arrived in our nation’s Capitol.

However, voters may be of a different opinion as recent election polling from Gallup indicates both low name recognition and ballot support for Santorum among candidates for the GOP presidential nomination.

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