Santorum Romps in Missouri and Minnesota
Rick Santorum routed Gov. Mitt Romney in the Missouri Republican primary and the Minnesota caucuses on Tuesday, giving a much-needed heartland boost to his underdog campaign, news outlets projected.
Santorum had 55% of the vote in Missouri, compared to 25% for Romney and 12% for Ron Paul, with 82% of the votes counted, CNN reported.
Santorum was also far ahead in Minnesota with 45% of the vote. Ron Paul was running second with 25% and Romney was a distant third with just 16% of the vote, with nearly a third of the precincts counted.
Romney was still a heavy favorite to win in Colorado, which was also holding caucuses on Tuesday. The vote was close there, with just a handful of votes counted.
The results would be another twist in the ever-changing GOP race for the nomination to run against President Barack Obama.
With Newt GIngrich not on the ballot in Missouri, Santorum united conservatives against Romney, whom many perceive as a moderate.
He also ran strong among evangelical Christians and social conservatives, the same groups that propelle him to a win in Iowa last month.
