No surprise here. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum is considering another run for president in 2016. Santurum, who ran in 2012 and has quietly been building up his national grassroots organization, Patriot Voices, has invited his former aides to Washington, D.C. to discuss a possible presidential run in 2016.

Santorum’s so-called “private briefing” really wasn’t so private, as his organization sent out a formal “Personal Invitation from Senator Santorum” email to those former aides, which was quickly leaked to CNN.

“As you probably know, RJS is seriously considering a run for the White House in 2016,” Santorum adviser Matt Beynon wrote in the email, using Santorum’s initials.

“With the midterms and the new year behind us, he is beginning the final stages of preparation and consideration of another campaign,” Beynon wrote.

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Santorum, he wrote, “would like to give you a personal update on his plans” at a “private briefing” on Jan. 13 at the offices of the American Continental Group, a lobbying and public affairs office in Washington.

A field packed with conservatives like Huckabee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and neurosurgeon Ben Carson could complicate Santorum’s chances.

In the invitation, Beynon said Santorum was also underestimated in the 2012 race.

“His run in 2012 defied every odd – winning 11 states including the Iowa Caucus (the most of any non-nominee since Reagan in ’76) and earning over 4 million votes,” the note read. “Over the past 3 years, he has worked hard to continue building a national infrastructure through his organization Patriot Voices.”

There you have it. Santorum becomes the third Republican to announce or signal that he is strongly considering a run for president.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, have both said that they are mulling over the possibility of a presidential run.

Who will be next to announce? Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, or what about Marco Rubio?