Santorum hopes to 'reset' Republican race in Minnesota

WHITE House hopeful Rick Santorum on Sunday said a win in Minnesota - where he is leading polls - could "reset" the Republican race and vowed to push through to the party's June convention.

The social conservative scored an early win last month after a recount handed him 34-vote victory in first-in-the-nation Iowa.

But he failed to carry that momentum, placing at or near the bottom of the narrowing field in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and Nevada.

Presumed frontrunner Mitt Romney appeared to have cemented his lead with resounding wins in Florida and Nevada last week, but Santorum told a crowd of supporters that an upset in Minnesota "can stop the streak."

"Minnesota can reset this race," Santorum told the cheering crowd gathered at a winery outside of the town of Waconia.

A poll released Sunday showed Santorum ahead by two points - which is within the statistical margin of error.

Since Minnesota holds caucuses - where voters can't just stop by to cast a ballot but must instead show up for a discussion today at 7 pm - turnout will be key to winning this midwestern state.

"This room can change the course of this election," Santorum told the 300 or so supporters who skipped watching the Super Bowl to hear him speak.

"If everybody in this building gets 10 people, think about the impact you can have on this race."

Santorum, who earlier Sunday spoke at a church service in suburban Minneapolis and visited the rural Minnesota factory that makes his signature sweater vests, stayed more than an hour after his speech to greet and take photos with everyone at the winery.

Approached by AFP, he echoed rival Newt Gingrich's vow to fight to the end.

AFP