Rick Santorum Wins Oklahoma's Super Tuesday Presidential Primary

Rick Santorum has won Oklahoma's Republican presidential primary, leaving Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich to battle for second place in what is called the "reddest of the red" states.

With 91 percent of Oklahoma's 1,961 precincts reporting unofficial returns, Santorum had 34 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney had 28 percent and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had 27 percent.

Santorum made Oklahoma a priority and visited the state twice in recent weeks, calling it "ground zero of the conservative movement."

Oklahoma has 40 of the 419 delegates up for grabs as one of the 10 states holding a Super Tuesday primary election.

Santorum's win in Oklahoma was no surprise to those at Tuesday's watch party in Oklahoma City. Polls had shown him with a significant lead in Oklahoma over closest rival former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Many say Santorum's recent campaign visits to Oklahoma and his social conservative base helped to lead to his win here.

03/04/2012 Related Story: Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum Spends Sunday In Oklahoma

State GOP leaders say regardless of whomever the eventual nominee is Tuesday was a good night for Oklahoma.

"The most important thing is that we have to stand united whomever the nominee is because our end goal is we have to replace President Obama," said Governor Mary Fallin.

Governor Mary Fallin also said that she expects that a clear cut winner will emerge among the Republican presidential candidates and does not believe a brokered convention will be needed.

Back in Tulsa, there was excitement at the Santorum's campaign headquarters.

Several volunteers were on the phones up until the polls closed trying to drum up support. They say it paid off big time Tuesday night.

The room in Oklahoma City broke out with applause as soon it was announced the GOP candidate was the projected winner.

Voters at Tuesday's watch party say Santorum's social conservative platform is very important to them. They say he is more representative of the middle class.

"Rick Santorum is the grandson of an immigrant coal miner. He is middle class all the way. He is actually more middle class than Barack Obama," said local campaign spokesperson Chris Medlock.

Campaign volunteers say they made up 10,000 campaign signs and did an email blitz to drum up as much support as they could.

Volunteers are now looking at ways their candidate can carry Super Tuesday's momentum into other states.

Santorum called Oklahoma "ground zero of the conservative movement." Four years ago, Barack Obama failed to win a single of the state's 77 counties.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.