TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Rick Santorum may be polling third in Florida, but he’s trying to gain some more traction in Tallahassee.

The former Pennsylvania Senator spoke to the Christian Family Coalition at a prayer breakfast at Florida State University Thursday morning.

“Faith plus family equals freedom,” said Santorum.

Later he told another crowd at a town hall at FSU, it's his steadfast conservative values that distinguish him from the 2 GOP presidential frontrunners.

"I'm going to be for limited government, less power in Washington, more power to you,” Santorum told the crowd, “we're going to be for reducing the budget, we're going to spend less money every year.”

He says former Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are too similar to President Barack Obama on issues, from a healthcare mandate to a bank bailout.

“Both Gingrich and Romney supported bailing them out to the determent of taxpayers and to the determent of our country that continues to suffer,” said Santorum.

But it's his conservative stance that drew a small group of protestors outside his town hall at FSU.

“His energy policy is horrendous, his views towards homosexuals are really hateful and bigoted and his views on abortion I think are quite appalling,” said Jessica Schwartz, an FSU student protestor.

Still supporters say unlike his GOP competitors, Santorum hasn't wavered on the issues.

“We need one that will stand steady and speak truth from a plumb line that hasn't moved; he's been solid,” said Pam Olsen, Director of the International House of Prayer in Tallahassee.

And despite rumors of dropping out, he says his campaign is already looking at the next primary and caucus states.