Santorum wins Kansas caucus but still struggling in White House race

Washington, Mar 11(ANI): Rick Santorum won the Kansas Republican presidential caucuses, marking his strongest caucus finish but he is still struggling to make a mark in Mitt Romney's delegate lead for the White House race.

Santorum dominated the race with 51 percent support, while Romney trailed with 21 percent votes followed by Newt Gingrich with 14 percent. Ron Paul was in last place with 13 percent votes.

But Romney has erased Santorum's gains by winning the overall Wyoming contest, alongwith several tiny caucuses in far-flung locales like Guam, Fox News reports.

Santorum, speaking at a rally in neighboring Missouri, attributed his good performance to Americans voting their "values."

He also urged Republicans not to nominate someone just because they think he has the best shot of winning the election.

"We have to have ... a nominee who can get up there and draw a clear contrast with the president of the United States," Santorum said.

University of Virginia Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato pointed out the significence of the barely noticed Romney's win on those island territories.

"Romney swept them. Why did he sweep them? Because he has the national organization and financing to have done the groundwork there. Those little things matter. They add up over time, and that's why Romney has far more delegates," he added.

Romney currently has 454 delegates out of the 1,144 needed to clinch the nomination. Santorum has 217, followed by Gingrich with 107 and Paul with 47. (ANI)