Santorum Surges in First Multi-State Primaries

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Newsroom America) -- Just when it looked like Republicans were coalescing around Mitt Romney to be the party's nominee in the fall against President Obama, Super Tuesday happened. Rick Santorum happened.

Without question the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania was the big winner in Tuesday's string of GOP primaries and caucuses, whose appeal among conservatives in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado vaulted him to the top of each of those races, dealing a blow to Romney in a contest that looked like his for the taking following a string of early primary wins.

Speaking to supporters in St. Charles, Mo., following his victory in the non-binding Missouri primary, Santorum chose instead to launch a broadside at Obama.

"I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama," he said.

Tuesday's three-for-three sweep was Santorum's best finish since Iowa, where he was belatedly declared the winner.

Declaring that conservatism is "alive and well," Santorum said made the case that his victories showed Republicans need someone who is a "sharp contrast" to Obama, something he says the other candidates cannot portray.

On that note, Santorum said Romney held similar positions as Obama on a number of key issues such as health care.

Still, Romney leads in the overall delegate count, but his victories proved the race is not a two-person contest between Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who did poorly in all three contests.

With all precincts reporting in Colorado, Santorum led with 40 percent of the vote. Romney was in second with 35 percent, followed by Gingrich and Paul. In Minnesota, with 95 percent of precincts reporting, Santorum led with 45 percent. Ron Paul was pulling in second with 27 percent, followed by Romney and Gingrich.

A total of 70 delegates were up for grabs in all those two states.

In Missouri, Tuesday's balloting was essentially a straw poll, but it sets up the delegate-awarding caucuses next month. Still, some 240,000 people voted, with Santorum getting 55 percent of the vote. Romney had 25 percent, followed by Paul with 12 percent; Gingrich was not on the ballot in Missouri.

At a rally in Colorado, Romney congratulated Santorum on his victories, but he said he is the only candidate in the GOP race who has not been tainted by the culture of Washington, D.C.

"This is a time for real change in Washington -- fundamental, bold, dramatic change," he said.

Romney headed into Tuesday's balloting with 101 delegates. That compares Gingrich, with 32 delegates, followed by Santorum with 17 and Paul with nine.

To win the nomination, it takes 1,144 delegates.

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