CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum admitted Friday night that enthusiasm in his campaign had lagged in South Carolina--but was predicting a turnaround in the final hours.
"It is good, it wasn't exactly the way I wanted it to feel. I didn't feel like we were surging," Santorum said, while speaking to cadets at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, adding that he felt "energy and electricity" at events.
[Up Close, Romney Wins Over Converts.]
The latest polls have Santorum battling with Texas Rep. Ron Paul for third place behind Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.
But Santorum is hardly crazy for predciting a turnaround. In Iowa, polls taken days before the state's caucus showed him lagging, but a late surge--as well as a key endorsement from state religious leader Bob Vander Plaats--helped him secure a strong finish in the state, which the Iowa GOP confirmed days ago was a slim victory. Santorum also just secured an endorsement from another key religious leader, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson.
And in a campaign this crazy, don't count anything out.
[Rick Santorum's Iowa Win Deserves More Attention.]
Santorum fashioned himself the "Goldilocks" candidate—the sensible middle ground between "too cool" Romney and "too hot" Gingrich. As for Romney, Santorum took a jab at his vast estimated wealth.
"Americans aren't looking for the person with the most money—they're looking for the person who's going to make them the most money," Santorum said.
- See cartoons about the Republican hopefuls.
- Poll: Gingrich leading in SC.
- Who is your pick for the GOP nomination?
aparker@usnews.com
Twitter: @AlexParkerDC
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Funbrain Games of AL 1:34PM January 22, 2012