Allegheny County Councilman Vince Gastgeb, R-Bethel Park, will not be running for state Senate and therefore won't be resigning from county council either.

Gastgeb says in the statement below that the decision is based on personal and family considerations, but the uncertainty around the state's House and Senate boundaries can't make the situation easy either. (The new version of the district south of Pittsburgh stretched a bit more toward the airport corridor than the last one.)

(UPDATE: We just talked to Gastgeb and he said reapportionment confusion had zero to do with the decision -- in fact, he said, "the old map was better for me. It had more of my [council] district." Rather, it was simply family pressures -- including having two kids still in high school and another in college -- that dampened his enthusiasm for the bid.)

That leaves gun rights advocate Kim Stolfer, R-South Fayette, as the only candidate we know of at the moment. Incumbent John Pippy announced he won't file for reelection.

Gastgeb's statement below:

Programming note: Daily Santorum will be taking the rest of the week off to do taxes. Back next week.

It's back to the "little engine that could" storyline for Team Santorum.

The Post-Gazette's intrepid Dan Majors has much of the Santorum news today -- the campaign is giving up on Florida to concentrate on the Midwest/Mountain states (Missouri, Minnesota, Colorado, Nevada), and the family received a health scare over the weekend about daughter Bella, age 3. As of Monday morning she was recovering from pneumonia and doing OK. The former senator's daughter Elizabeth (left) campaigned in his stead Sunday.

In polls, Republican voters like Santorum even if it's not always translating into votes. And if Gingrich got out of the race it would benefit him much more than the former speaker, writes NBC's First Read:

*** What if Santorum wasn’t in the race? Perhaps the most important number in the NBC-Marist poll was what happens when Santorum is removed from the race. Santorum’s vote splits off evenly if he’s removed, and Romney has an even WIDER lead over Gingrich, 49%-33%. So, Gingrich can’t make the argument that if conservatives weren’t divided he would win. The numbers just don’t bear that out. What’s really interesting -- Santorum probably could argue that if GINGRICH weren’t in the race, he’d have a better chance against Romney. Santorum’s image is as good as it’s been since the campaign began.

So would conservatives would find their best option in Santorum? Michelle Malkin certainly thinks so, in what could be a major endorsement for his campaign:

For many grass-roots conservatives across the country, Romney and Gingrich are the machine.

And at this point in the game, Rick Santorum represents the most conservative candidate still standing who can articulate both fiscal and social conservative values — and live them.

Public schedule after the jump:

Good Monday morning.

All eyes will be on the state Supreme Court this week as we await their full ruling on legislative reapportionment. In the meantime, state House and Senate races are more or less on hold (Inky) and there is speculation there could be two primaries this spring (one under the old lines and a second after new lines are accepted), says Jon Delana at KDKA-TV.

While Republicans worry their newly-drawn districts won't be used this year (which would be "stupid," Gov. Tom Corbett said), they were also worrying over the governor's strongarming of GOP committee members at the party's endorsement meetings Saturday. Laura Olson has that story, and I have a related one on this pivotal time for the governor, with a state budget and a presidential year upon him.

We'll also get a look this week at 4th quarter federal fundraising numbers. PA18 Republican candidate Evan Feinberg was the first locally into the clubhouse with $40K in cash.

Here's a statement from Steve Welch's campaign on the GOP State Committee nod:

The members of the State Committee sent a clear message that they are ready to unite behind one candidate and make sure that Bob Casey is defeated in November.

Mr. Welch added: “I am humbled to have the support of the Republican State Committee.  It is truly an honor.  These are the people that are the grassroots of our party.  As a party and conservative movement it is time to unite to defeat the Obama-Casey agenda.  In the campaign that lies ahead, I will talk about my vision and values, and I will talk about Senator Bob Casey’s record of failure. I look forward to sharing my story, an American story of starting a small business from scratch, creating good jobs, and helping others to do the same.  America is the most innovative and most productive country in the world.  But it won’t stay that way if Bob Casey and Barack Obama continue to push us toward national bankruptcy.  I look forward to a spirited debate over the coming months about the future of this great country.”

And the shot across the bow from Tom Smith. It's going to be a fun spring:

"I thank members of the Republican State Committee for the strong showing of support for my candidacy," said Smith.  "I congratulate Steve on his success today and look forward to a spirited primary election as we now take our case to millions of Pennsylvania Republicans.  Our Party, all factions and persuasions, must stand unified to defeat Bob Casey in November, I am confident that I am the candidate best positioned to accomplish that goal."

"In a week full of negative attacks, arm-twisting and backroom deals, Tom Smith stayed above the fray.  An outsider candidate, Tom demonstrated strong establishment support and remains best positioned to unite the Republican Party and lead a successful ticket in November," said Campaign Manager Jim Conroy.  "We look forward to offering three million Republicans a clear choice between Tom Smith, a conservative business man - and Steve Welch, a self-professed moderate with a record of supporting liberal Democrats like Barack Obama and Joe Sestak."

Smith placed second in the State Committee balloting.

UPDATE: Tim Burns is staying in despite it all:

"After establishing a commanding lead over Steve Welch in the caucus straw polls, I was certainly disappointed by the results of yesterday's roll call vote," said Burns. "It is clear that the endorsement of the Governor carries a lot of weight with the committee.

"I got into this race because I believe that I am the strongest candidate to defeat Bob Casey and in caucus after caucus, state committee members agreed. Despite yesterday's vote, I know that my candidacy offers our party a strong contrast to Senator Casey. Yesterday's results are just one battle in a long fight to defeat the Obama/Casey agenda."