Santorum: "We Did it Again!"
LAFAYETTE, LA -- Shortly after news outlets called Alabama's presidential primary race for Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator took the stage in front of a packed Hilton hotel ballroom here and declared with a grin: "We did it again!"
The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, whose upstart campaign was launched with a surprise victory in Iowa, claimed wins in two Southern states he often calls "Newt Gingrich's backyard," and where the former House speaker was staking a comeback. Though Santorum hadn't yet been projected the winner of Mississippi, his other spoil on Tuesday, he hinted at the prospect of yet another upset.
"I don't think there was a single poll that had me anywhere close to winning Mississippi, not one," Santorum said. "And yet I knew when I was traveling around, whether it was all the way up in Tupelo, the passion in their heart. They understood how important this race is for themselves and their families and for the future of our country."
Full Alabama results
Full Mississippi results
Billing his campaign as "ordinary folks doing extraordinary things," Santorum made the bold prediction that "we're gonna win this nomination before that convention" in August by earning the necessary 1,144 delegates, an extraordinary feat, given Romney's already enormous lead.
Earlier in the day, Santorum said that Gingrich should get out of the race "because clearly the vast majority of the votes that he is taking are coming from me."
Still, he said, the results "greatly exceed" his expectations. Asked how they change the race, he said, "As I've been saying, this adventure's going to be a two-person race, and when it does, the conservative will win."
Romney did not make an election night appearance, and instead issued a statement congratulating Santorum on his twin victories.
Santorum sweeps Miss., Ala. primaries
Santorum says results "greatly" exceeded his expectations
He added, "I am pleased that we will be increasing our delegate count in a very substantial way after tonight. Ann and I made a lot of new friends in Alabama and Mississippi and we look forward to campaigning in those states in the general election. Because of their support, our campaign is on the move and ready to take on President Obama in the fall."
Santorum flies next to Puerto Rico, followed by campaign stops in Missouri and Illinois over the weekend.