Rick Santorum on Sunday easily won the Republican presidential primary in Louisiana, the home State of Indian-American Governor Bobby Jindal, raising questions on front-runner Mitt Romney's ability to win the key Southern States in coming weeks.
"Our campaign is making history," 53-year-old Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator and conservative, said in an e-mail to supporters moments after he was projected winner.
With 100% of the precincts counted, unofficial returns showed Santorum won 49% while Romney got 27 per cent. Gingrich received 16% and Ron Paul 6%.
Despite this big loss, 65-year-old Romney is still considered to be the frontrunner as he has the maximum number of delegates (560), with Santorum a distant second (254) followed by Newt Gingrich who has 141 delegates with him.
The candidates need 1,114 delegates to be able to earn the Republican Party's nomination to challenge incumbent Barack Obama in the November presidential elections.
Jindal, who in the initial phase of the primaries had endorsed Texas Governor Rick Perry did not support any of the candidates so far. Perry has withdrawn from the race.
Jubilant by the Louisiana victory, Santorum said the Saturday's results have shaken up the Republican presidential primary, adding that it is a two way race now.
"We're here to fight. This race is long and far from over," Santorum said.
"Not since Ronald Reagan in 1976 has a conservative candidate won as many states as we have," he said, referring to his 11 wins out of 34 contests so far.
"The reason why our campaign is winning in state after state is because people want an authentic, strong conservative leader to take on Barack Obama and not someone who just talks a good conservative game."
