Rick Santorum Claims Delegate Race Is Closer Than Reported - East Idaho News
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Rick Santorum Claims Delegate Race Is Closer Than Reported

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Getty 111411 GOPCandidates1?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1332011448318AFP/Getty Images(BALLWIN, Mo.) — As Missouri voters gathered to select delegates for the convention, Rick Santorum made the case that the delegate race between him and Mitt Romney is closer than the current delegate math estimates suggest.

“You help us here today. You elect delegates for us today to go to that convention. We’ve got some new delegate math that we’re going to be putting out that shows this race is a lot different than what the consensus is. We’re looking at the rules, we’re looking at how things are stacking up, and we’re in much better shape in these caucuses and some of these apportioned states or winner take all states which in fact are not winner take all states,” said Santorum at a Lafayette Township caucus site Saturday morning.

Santorum did not indicate when the campaign would release their version of delegate calculations.

During a radio interview with Randy Tobler, Santorum noted that the current delegate math favors Romney’s campaign.

“Those numbers are frankly just not true. I mean, the delegate allocation isn’t anywhere near what they’re suggesting. It’s a very pro-Romney allocation of resources,” said Santorum. “Many of the delegates that have been put forward right now are truly just still uncommitted and can go either way. There’s no hard and fast that he’s gonna get those votes or we’ll get those votes, so we’ve got a long way to go.”

“If we keep winning and doing well, and we keep winning the states that we’re supposed to win, upset him in states and do either very, very well or win some of the states we’re not supposed to win, we’re gonna win the nomination. I have no doubt about that whatsoever,” Santorum continued.

At a second caucus site in Hazelwood, Santorum claimed he has won every state in the Midwest, despite losing Ohio and Michigan to Romney.

“If you look at the Midwest, all of the Midwest is one color. It’s our color. We’ve won every state in the Midwest. Let’s keep that going in the state of Illinois, obviously we need to keep that going here with the delegate selection here in Missouri,” said Santorum.

As he made his pitch to voters gathered at two caucus sites Saturday morning, Santorum turned his focus on Romney, describing the former Massachusetts governor as “uniquely disqualified” to provide a contrast to President Obama, particularly on the issue of health care. The bulk of Santorum’s caucus site pitch focused on his rivals’ and the president’s stances on energy and health care.

Santorum argued that the implementation of President Obama’s healthcare plan would lead to this generation allowing “the torch of freedom go out in America because we will all be dependent upon the federal government for your life and health, and once that happens, it’s all over.”

Without citing names, Santorum accused some in the Republican field of not possessing the ability to uphold their convictions.

“There are people in our party who are running for president who have lost that will, and they’re willing to make deals. They’re willing to compromise that fundamental thing, and if we put up someone like that and not someone who believes in that strong, clear contrast, we will lose, and if we lose, we lose,” said Santorum.

Regardless of the up-hill climb Santorum might face in the delegate race, he promised to persevere in the race through the end and asked Missouri voters to not only help generate a high delegate count, but also extend their support into Illinois prior to Tuesday’s contests.

“We’re in this fight. We’re going to be in it till the end. We’re going to win. The Republican party’s going to nominate a conservative. You’ve just got to believe that, and I hope you that give us the opportunity here in Missouri to have a great delegate count and then go home and call your friends across the river and make sure we have the same opportunity in Illinois.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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