Santorum Wins in Alabama, leading in Mississippi

Despite what looks to have been a significant drop-off in the polling numbers of Rick Santorum over the last few weeks, the former Pennsylvania Senator has been declared the winner in Alabama, and as of around 10:45, leads with 33% in Mississippi, narrowly leading Newt Gingrich at 31 and Mitt Romney at 30. A win in these two states would be significant for the Senator, who most have thought was finished after a sub-par performance on Super Tuesday. However, were he to win both these states, his role as the legitimate challenger to Romney in the race for the GOP nomination would be cemented. Though Romney remains the front-runner, Santorum's victories in some significant states keep him in the race and potentially give him the chance to upend Romney at some point.