Santorum disputes Romney's delegate count

AP Photo/Eric Gay

Updated 5:35 p.m. ET

(CBS News) MOBILE, Ala. -- Rick Santorum on Friday brushed off suggestions that he can't mathematically secure the 1,144 delegates necessary to win the GOP presidential nomination, arguing that many of the delegates whom Mitt Romney claims are still "up for grabs."

Citing Romney's victories in Florida and Arizona, Santorum told reporters, "The idea that Mitt Romney is going to get 50 delegates out of Florida, that's just simply false."

"The rules are very clear at the RNC. Arizona and Florida are not all going to go to Romney," he said following a speech at the Battleship USS Alabama pavilion. "We are going to have a proportional allocation in both those states. Why? Because that's what the RNC rules said, and the RNC is going to be forced to play by the rules whether or not Arizona and Florida want to."

Florida has 50 delegates and Arizona 29; currently those totals are being counted for Romney. Delegate totals show Romney with 421 to Santorum's 181.

The Romney campaign angrily took issue with Santorum's assertions. "Rick Santorum may be used to making up his own 'facts,' but he can't make up his own math," spokeswoman Andrea Saul said. "Mitt Romney has won over 50 percent of the delegates up for grabs thus far and has a clear path to the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination.

"On the other hand, Sen. Santorum has only won 22 percent of the delegates, so has to win 65 percent of the remaining ones. With delegates being proportionally allocated in almost all of the upcoming states, there's just not a chance for him to catch up."

In addition, the Republican National Committee has made clear that it will not change Florida and Arizona's decisions to award delegates winner-take-all.

In 2010, the RNC ruled that states holding early primaries and caucuses before April 1, 2012 had to allot them proportionally according to the outcome of the vote. Exceptions were made for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. But Florida and South Carolina decided to forge ahead with early primaries and winner-take-all allotment of delegates.

While greeting supporters on the rope line after his rally, Santorum responded to a suggestion that Romney's political record resembles the changing colors of a chameleon. Santorum laughed and replied, "Well, we have a Newt and a chameleon, right?"

Sarah B. Boxer contributed

[JulianAlien]

Actually,the RNC is breaking their own rules by not giving out the delegates proportionately,because the state of Florida broke the rules by having the primary early.Any one of you can look it up.You are sitting in front of a computer.It sure does feel creepy agreeing with Santorum,though.This proves that the RNC is bending every rule to get Mitt in even though Republicans do not want him.I think we are watching the death of the party.I have never voted for any other brand,but I doubt I will vote Republican again unless Rand Paul was to run.

[MymMars]

"While some have suggested that if Gingrich gets out of the race Santorum will move into the lead, the numbers still don't bear that out. In a one-on-one matchup. Romney leads Santorum 50% to 39%, virtually identical to last week's findings."

http://m.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/election_2012_republican_presidential_primary

[srileygls]

Have you ever seen anyone as whiney as Santorum?

[dixie421]

Those states were penalized by giving up half of their delegates. Santorum knows that and is just making himself look more ignorant than he is. Who could support him or Newt? They are both such bad sports and crybabies...sheesh!

[kansas1946]

The Republicans have two winners here. The smarmy guy in the asbestos underwear that thinks a space ship is coming to pick up believers, and a weirdo that thinks women should be nothing but breed cows. Good going Republicans.

[erpicferl]

lol