Rick Santorum wins Kansas Republican Caucus

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March 10, 2012|By Jim Grawe | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Presidential candiate Rick Santorum won the Kansas Republican Caucus Saturday with 51.2% of the vote.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney received 20.9 percent of the vote. Newt Gingrich had 14.4 percent and Ron Paul came in fourth with 12.6 percent.

Thousands of Kansas Republicans cast their ballots for who they'd like to see be the Republican nominee.

Santorum banked 33 of the 40 delegates up for grabs. Romney received the remaining 7 delegates.

Three delegates go to the candidate who receives the mosts state wide votes. Three delegates are awarded to the top vote-getter in each of the state's four congressional districts.

The remaining 25 delegates are split proportionally among the presidential hopefuls. But a candidate will qualify for them only if he receives more than 20 percent of the vote statewide.

Campaigns Come to Kansas

All four GOP presidential candidates were invited to speak at the Wichita event which was the largest caucus in the state. Santorum sent his wife, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul sent representatives, and Mitt Romney sent a written statement a party official read at the podium. Santorum had the most support by far, followed by Paul.

Thousands attended including Governor Sam Brownback who said it may have been the largest single gathering of Republicans in Kansas history.

The Sedgwick County caucus was one of more than 90 taking place across the state on Saturday.

At rally on Friday, Rick Santorum told the crowd at Jabara Airport that he's for smaller government, limited government and free people. He says the number one issue for him is government over reach with taxes and regulations. Santorum says that would change if he's elected.

Paul spoke to a crowd at Century II at a rally put on by Kansans for Liberty at Century II.

Paul talked about out of control spending in Washington DC. He says we can complain about what everyone is doing but too often government reflects the people. That's why he says he's happy to identify with the Tea Party movement and say enough is enough.Reporter Video

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