Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum swept the Kansas caucuses on Saturday with 51 per cent of the vote, giving him a boost going into crucial primary votes in the South next week.
The conservative former senator from Pennsylvania was ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who was at 21 per cent, and former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich, at 14 per cent.Texas congressman Ron Paul had 12 per cent. Mr Santorum now has some bragging rights before the more contested races next week in Alabama and Mississippi, where victories could solidify his status as the conservative alternative to Mr Romney. The Republican race to become the nominee to face Barack Obama in the presidential poll could come down to a two-way fight between Santorum and Romney. – (Reuters)