Fmr. Senator Rick Santorum and I on the border of Gaza during the last war with Hamas in August 2014.

(Dallas, Texas) — This week, former Senator Rick Santorum and I had a conversation about the dual threats of ISIS and Iran and my new political thriller, The Third Target.

You can listen to the 24 minute interview on the Patriot Voices Radio program by clicking here.

I include this as part of a series of columns I’ll be writing about meetings and conversations with potential 2016 presidential candidates. As I noted on Wednesday, in recent years, I have had the opportunity to meet and spend time with, and occasionally build friendships with, a number of potential presidential contenders. The reason I do this is not because I want to be drawn back into partisan politics. Rather, I want to understand their world view by talking with them first-hand, get to know their character and personality, and pray for them. I also want, if possible, to help shape their view of the U.S.-Israel relationship, the threat of Radical Islam — especially Iran and ISIS — and the importance of our Arab allies in the Middle East, such as Jordan and Egypt.

Last November, I co-wrote an essay for the Christian Post on what some evangelical leaders are looking for in the next President. I would encourage you to read that column in full to understand the framework by which two friends — Penny Nance and Ralph Reed — and I are examining the candidates.

Senator Santorum and I have been friends for many years. We have worked together to warn the nation about “the gathering storm” of Radical Islam. He’s been to our home for dinner and we recently had dinner together with our wives and several good friends. We traveled through Israel during the recent war with Hamas, as the Senator brought a delegation of Christian leaders on a solidarity visit in August. We’ve also written an op-ed together on the Iranian nuclear threat.

I can’t say whether he will run again for President, but after winning 11 states and four million votes in 2012 I know he has a much stronger base of support than most people realize. Whether he runs or not, he has a great deal of experience and wisdom on foreign policy and national security issues, and I believe his voice is an important and needed one.

Lynn and I are praying for him and his family — and we’re excited about his and Karen’s forthcoming book, Bella’s Gift: How One Little Girl Transformed Our Family And Inspired A Nation.

• Lessons of history: Americans fear “second Holocaust” if Iran gets the bomb (op-ed by Santorum and Rosenberg on CNN.com)
• Rick Santorum, delegation to tour Israel (Politico)
• Rating the presidential contenders on their policies towards the Iran threat

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• How serious is the threat of ISIS & Radical Islam? I’m doing a special simulcast event for churches on Sunday evening, April 19th. Please register today.
• In face of genocide, too many in Washington complacent about defeating ISIS: Video of my Fox News interview with Shannon Bream on #TheThirdTarget.
• “Nightmare scenario”: What happens if ISIS attacks Jordan? Gov. Huckabee asked me this on FoxNews this weekend. Here’s the video of our discussion.
• Exclusive new poll: Americans fear “catastrophic terrorist attacks” by ISIS inside US, Israel & Jordan. “Washington Examiner” reports results of survey commissioned for launch of #TheThirdTarget.

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• To order a copy of THE THIRD TARGET, please click here. It is now available in book stores across the U.S. and Canada in hardcover and audio book formats — and is being shipped to those who have pre-ordered it. It is also being released globally today in e-book formats like Kindle, Nook & others.
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