Earlier: Close Battles Loom in Alabama, Mississippi.
As the Republican presidential race turned to Alabama and Mississippi on Tuesday, two states almost assured to rally behind whoever emerges with the GOP nomination in November, Rick Santorum won both states by small margins over Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.
With 79 percent of the votes counted, Santorum won Alabama, which had 50 delegates on the line, with 35 percent, followed by Gingrich with 30 percent and Romney with 28 percent. Ron Paul trailed with 5 percent.
With 96 percent of the votes in, Santorum edged Gingrich in Mississippi, which had 40 delegates up for grabs. Santorum took 33 percent, followed by Gingrich with 31 percent, Romney in third with 30 percent and Paul trailing with 4 percent.
Santorum spoke to supporters in Louisiana after he was declared to have won Alabama and was leading in Mississippi.
We did it again, Santorum told the cheering crowd, before ripping into President Barack Obama on energy and oil issues, insisting the administration's policies are hurting job growth in the Pelican State.
Santorum took a shot at Romney who had told CNN earlier in the day that he thought his rival was at the desperate end of his campaign.
For someone who thinks this race is inevitable, he spent a whole lot of money, Santorum told the crowd.
With Gingrichs two wins coming in the South -- his home state of Georgia and South Carolina -- the former congressional leader was looking to build momentum in the region, but Santorums wins cast doubt upon his chances.
Santorum looked to nudge Gingrich out of the race in his speech on Tuesday night.
The time is now for conservatives to get together, Santorum insisted.
The Gingrich camp released a memo earlier on Tuesday written by two staffers -- senior Randy Evans and Martin Baker -- insisting there is still a path to victory for their candidate and stressing that more than half of the delegates had not been awarded.
Speaking in Alabama, Gingrich showed no sign of dropping out when he talked to supporters on Tuesday night after Santorum was declared the winner in both states.
Were going to leave Alabama and Mississippi with a substantial number of delegates, insisted Gingrich, who added he is going all the way to the Republican convention in Tampa.
Gingrich also piled on Romney.
If youre the front-runner and you keep coming in third, youre not much of a front-runner, he said.
Santorum got last-minute support in both states on Tuesday. In Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley used a morning radio show to announce he had voted for the former senator from Pennsylvania.
"I am honored to have Governor Bentley's support, Santorum said in a statement. Governor Bentley is a true public servant who goes to work each day fighting for Alabama and her people. He understands what small-business owners and entrepreneurs are facing, and he has applied those principles day in and day out. That is the mindset we need in Washington, one that doesn't represent 1 percent, 95 percent, or 99 percent of Americans -- but all Americans. I am committed to doing just that, representing all Americans, and with support of great Americans like Governor Bentley, I am confident we have taken one more big step toward realizing that opportunity."
Romney had been counting on the support of many Republican leaders in Alabama, including former Gov. Bob Riley, who received some buzz as a potential candidate for the GOP nomination early in the election cycle.
Santorum also won the endorsement of Mississippi Congressman Alan Nunnelee on Tuesday afternoon.
"Rick Santorum understands that freedom means economic prosperity, strong families and communities that provide opportunities for all, Nunnelee said. His personal commitment and record of achievement show that not only does he live these values, but works to make them a reality for all Americans. I think Rick Santorum will make a great president and I look forward to voting for him on Tuesday."
Romney had been counting on the support of Mississippi Republicans including U.S. Thad Cochran and Gov. Phil Bryant.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
