Santorum gets Secret Service protection
Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign rally at Colorado Springs Fabrication on February 4, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On the day of the Nevada caucus, Mitt Romney traveled to Colorado for a campaign rally ahead of the Colorado primary. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Rick Santorum will join Mitt Romney in receiving protecting from the Secret Service, CNN reported.
Romney is the only GOP candidate currently receiving protection. Herman Cain, who ran but dropped out last December, was also granted protection.
US President Barack Obam was the first to receive protection before the 2008 election. Romney began to receive protection on February 1, but Obama received his in May 2007, roughly a year and a half before the election, according to CNN.
The large crowds then-candidate Obama was drawing led the Secret Service to assess Obama's eligibility.
Former House speaker Neewt Gingrich has reportedly requested protection but has yet to receive it, the Associated Press reported.
Candidates historically would receive protection after securing the party's nomination, but in past elections requests for early protection have been granted by the Department of Homeland Security. Poll numbers and fundraising are used as measures when assessing eligibility for protection, the AP said.