Kansas caucuses are latest test in GOP delegate chase

Republicans in this red state will decide Saturday whether to hand Rick Santorum another presidential campaign victory and bolster his argument that he is the most viable conservative alternative to front-runner Mitt Romney, not Newt Gingrich.

The former Pennsylvania senator dropped into Topeka and Wichita on Friday, his second trip to Kansas since he won three states on Super Tuesday. “We need Kansas,” he told about 250 supporters at a rally at the Great Overland Station, a historic 1927 railroad depot in Topeka.

As he was working his way along a line of supporters, signing his name on placards and books, Santorum said, “People are recognizing that we’ve got a chance to break this establishment gridlock.” His low-budget campaign has survived despite overwhelming spending by Romney and a “super PAC” trying to get the former Massachusetts governor elected.

Santorum and Gingrich, the former House speaker, are fighting over the most conservative Republican voters and Kansas was expected to be their next battleground. But Gingrich backed out of about a half dozen events on Friday and Saturday to spend time in Alabama and Mississippi, which vote on Tuesday. Gingrich has won only two states, both in the South: Georgia, which he represented in Congress for two decades, and neighboring South Carolina.

“I think it may be telling that some of the candidates are not here. They’re saying, ‘OK, we’re not sure we can do so well there,’” said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who added that earlier in the week he had expected all four GOP candidates to visit the state. “Candidates that come to the state will do better than candidates that don’t come to the state.”

RESULTS: Kansas GOP caucuses map

On Friday, Ron Paul also visited Topeka and Wichita. The Texas congressman, whose steadfast libertarian views have attracted a devoted following, planned to attend four caucuses on Saturday near Kansas City. Paul came in third in 2008, well behind Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Ariz. Sen. John McCain, but way ahead of Romney.

State Republican officials picked the Saturday after the Super Tuesday primaries for their caucus, hoping that Kansas would play a key role in the election this year. “People are excited and engaged,” said the party’s executive director, Clay Barker.

At stake in Kansas are 40 delegates. Three will go to the candidate who gets the most statewide votes. Three are awarded to the winners in each of the state’s four congressional districts. And another 25 delegates are awarded proportionally.

Only registered Republicans can vote. State party officials are unsure how many will show up. In 2008, about 20,000 voted, but the election came after it was clear McCain would be the nominee. The party’s executive director said he thought the turnout could be as high as three times that based on other GOP caucuses held this election season.

Republicans will gather at 96 sites. Beginning at 10 a.m. CST, representatives of the four presidential candidates will make 10-minute speeches. Voting lasts until 1 p.m. and the results must be turned in by 5 p.m. State officials hope to report all results by 6 p.m.

Original source: Kansas caucuses are latest test in GOP delegate chase