Presidential candidate and Penn State graduate Rick Santorum announced that he is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination.

During a press conference Tuesday in Gettysburg, the former Pennsylvania senator cited family reasons as his motivation.

Santorum said his three-year-old daughter, Bella, was supposed to star in a play this weekend but ended up in the hospital instead. Bella Santorum has a rare genetic disorder, Trisomy 18. Her father thanked everyone for the outpouring of prayers.

“She is a fighter, and she’s doing exceptionally well,” he said during the press conference. “It did cause us to think of our role as parents in her life.”

In recent weeks, the former Pennsylvania senator has been GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s top competition.

As of April 8, Santorum trailed Romney by more than 350 delegates.

Romney won all three of last Tuesday’s primary elections, taking Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Santorum came in second to Romney in Maryland and Wisconsin — he wasn’t registered for votes the District of Columbia.

Read Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Collegian for more information.