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02/08/2012 09:00 AM

Decision 2012: Santorum Pulls Off Stunning Three-State Sweep

By: Josh Robin

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Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is riding a wave of momentum today following a three-state sweep Tuesday night.

The former Pennsylvania senator picked up wins in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri.

Overnight, Republican officials called Colorado for Santorum with 40 percent of the votes to Mitt Romney's 35 percent.

In Minnesota, Santorum finished ahead of Ron Paul, 45 percent to 27 percent.

He also pummeled Romney in Missouri pulling in 55 percent of the votes, more than double Romney's 25 percent.

While none of the states that voted Tuesday award binding delegates, Santorum was able to boost his claim that he has a better chance winning the party's conservative bloc.

"Your votes today were not just heard loud and wide across the state of Missouri and Minnesota but they were heard loud and louder all across this country," Santorum told supporters.

Romney says he's looking ahead to the next three primaries in Maine, Michigan and Arizona, and to the Super Tuesday contests in March.

"I can't tell you how many times I've heard the situation is hopeless or heard a long list of reasons something can't be done. But I've never been any good at listening to those people. And I've always enjoyed proving them wrong," said Romney.

Newt Gingrich finished third and fourth in Minnesota and Colorado and wasn't on Missouri's ballot.

Ron Paul says he is slowly building delegates and plans to be heard at the convention.

Putting things in perspective, this time four years ago John McCain had lost more states than he had won.

The Arizona senator later became the nominee, but ended up losing to then-Illinois Seantor Barack Obama.