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Santorum halts campaign for hospitalized daughter

CHARLESTON, SC - JANUARY 21: Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum speaks at his primary-night event on January 21, 2012 in Mark Clark Hall at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Andrew Burton/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Republican Rick Santorum is pausing his presidential campaign after admitting his 3-year-old daughter, Isabella Santorum, to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia late Saturday. The child suffers from a serious birth defect.

"Rick and his wife, Karen, are admitting their daughter, Bella, to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia this evening," said Hogan Gidley, the former U.S. senator's communications director. "The campaign will cancel Rick's upcoming Sunday morning Florida campaign schedule. However, Rick intends to return to Florida and resume the campaign schedule as soon as is possible."

The crucial Florida primary is on Tuesday.

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