After a stunning three-state sweep, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum takes his conservative message to a church in Texas where he set his sites on the left.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE RICK SANTORUM SAYING :
"This is the intolerance of the Left, the intolerance of the secular ideology. It is a religion unto itself, it's not a biblical-based religion and it is the most intolerant, just like we saw from the days of the atheists of the Soviet Union. It is completely intolerant of dissent, because they fear dissent, why, because the dissent comes from folks who use reason, common sense and divine revelation and they want no part of any of those things."
The surge comes at a perfect time for Santorum, a Roman Catholic who speaks frequently about his seven children on the campaign trail and holds Christian conservative stances such as fierce opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage.
With signs of an improving economy, social issues have taken on more prominence in the 2012 campaign.
Santorum's Tuesday sweep raises new questions about the presumed front-runner Mitt Romney. While the former Massachusetts governor has the edge when it comes to money and organization, analysts say he has yet to prove he can win over conservative Republicans who see him as too moderate.
But Romney is still confident that he will prevail.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY SAYING :
"Congratulations to Rick Santorum on a big night. But we are looking forward to the games ahead. We think we are going to pick up the delegates we need to get the nomination if we do our job right. So, we are feeling pretty good."
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, the front-runner as recently as Jan. 21, when he won the South Carolina primary, is struggling after campaign missteps and fierce attacks from Romney.
He continues to make his case for the Presidency.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE NEWT GINGRICH, SAYING :
"Part of our purpose in running is economic, to get us back on the right track. Part of our purpose in running is culture, to protect the rights of Americans to worship freely without being dictated to by their government. And part of our purpose in running is National security. We live in a very dangerous world."
The next major Republican nominating contests are the Arizona and Michigan primaries on Feb. 28, while Maine wraps up its caucuses this Saturday.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
