[Video] Rick Santorum speech after Wisconsin loss: ‘It's halftime'

ByABC News
April 3, 2012, 11:32 PM

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Rick Santorum failed to win any of Tuesday's primary contests, further hurting his already slim chances at the Republican presidential nomination. Santorum took the stage in Mars, Penn. after the Maryland and D.C. races were declared to reiterate that he has no intention of stepping aside.

"It's halftime," he said, saying approximately half the delegates were still at stake. "Who's ready to charge out of the locker room?" (While only 19 contests remain after Tuesday night, they include several high-population states.)

The networks called Wisconsin for Mitt Romney shortly after Santorum concluded his remarks, giving the former governor a three-state sweep. Early estimates suggested Romney would win the lion's share of the nearly 100 delegates at stake Tuesday.

Santorum devoted much of his stage time to a paean to the people of southwestern Pennsylvania, where he grew up. "We forged liberty in this state," he said, comparing himself to George Washington crossing the Delaware. He repeated his familiar message that Mitt Romney is not conservative enough to energize the Republican base in the general election.

"We can't have little differences between our nominee and Barack Obama. We need clear, contrasting colors," he said.


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