With most precincts reporting, Rick Santorum is the projected winner of the Republican presidential primaries in Alabama & Mississippi. Newt Gingrich appears to have placed second in both contests with narrow leads over Mitt Romney.
Both states allocate their delegates proportionally, so Mitt Romney will retain his wide lead in the race toward the one, 144 delegates needed to secure the party's nomination. But Santorum's victories are a immense blow to Romney's campaign, which was hoping to put a cease to the narrative that the former governor cannot win in the traditional South. The sweep will likely provide Santorum with a major boost of enthusiasm & financial support.
"I require saying first to the people of Alabama, you made a great difference," Santorum said from Lafayette, La. before the results of Mississippi were clear. "I don't think there was a single poll showing me anywhere close to winning Mississippi. Not," they added--a true statement, though only a small handful of polls were conducted.
Speaking from Birmingham, Ala., Gingrich sounded his usual defiant note amid speculation that they would drop out of the race after failing to win either state in what is thought about his strongest region of support.
