PHOENIX – "Most Politicians are not leaders, they’re followers," said former senator Rick Santorum at the Arizona Right to Life Gala.

"The American public is changing their opinion on this [abortion] issue. The country is now evenly split pro-life, pro-choice and that’s a big change from 25 years ago."

An anti-abortion advocate, Santorum was chosen as the keynote speaker at the event, which took place at the Downtown Phoenix Convention Center. The Arizona Right to life organization holds pro-life events state wide and stands for, "protecting the right to life of all human beings, born and unborn."

A recent Republican presidential candidate, Santorum believes that the issue of abortion will play a pivotal role in the upcoming debates between President Obama and Governor Romney. "We’ve seen these moral-cultural issues already have an impact on the [presidential] race."

That’s not the only issue Santorum says will be on the forefront of the upcoming election. Along with the economy, Santorum says the importance of national security is once again increasing considering the recent murder of U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and the growing number of anti-American protests taking place outside U.S. embassies across the Middle East.

The former senator describes the current situation in the Middle East as precarious and believes, "that this was an attack by terrorists against the United States of America."

Following the suspension of his candidacy, Santorum officially endorsed Governor Romney for President and hopes he will not mismanage national security affairs in the Middle East in the same way he believes President Obama has.

The former senator closed by returning to the issue of abortion, reiterating the need for political leaders, not followers, that will uphold the constitutional right to life.