BALLWIN, Mo. — Rick Santorum says voters shouldn't count him out, despite the Romney campaign's assertion that a victory by him is impossible.
In a speech to Missouri caucus-goers, Santorum declared that the race is closer than Romney is letting on, adding that his campaign will soon release a new delegate tally showing gains against the former Massachusetts governor.
"We’ve got some new delegate math that we’re going to be putting out that shows this race is a lot different than what the consensus is," Santorum said. "We’re looking at the rules, we’re looking at how things are stacking up, and we’re in much better shape in these caucuses and some of these apportioned states or winner take all states which in fact are not winner take all states. We’re in this fight. We’re going to be in it till the end. We’re going to win."
Romney's campaign had said that it would take an "Act of God" for Santorum to clinch the nomination, though the candidate walked that statement back in an interview on Fox News last week.
"Anybody has a shot at becoming the nominee," Romney said on Thursday after saying he didn't agree with the assessment of the race offered by a top aide in a meeting with reporters at his campaign headquarters.
Santorum adviser John Brabender told BuzzFeed that the delegate analysis would be released "soon," saying only that it shows the race is "much tighter than Romney says."