Rick Santorum fought back against mounting pressure for him to exit
the race on Sunday, saying conservatives are having Mitt Romney "shoved
down our throat" by the Republican establishment.
A steady
stream of Republicans announced their backing of Romney this week,
including Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former
President George H.W. Bush, and, most recently, Wisconsin Sen. Ron
Johnson.
Speaking to reporters after a campaign event in West
Bend, Wis., Santorum said the latest endorsements only prove that the
GOP establishment is "getting nervous" he may win the Wisconsin primary.
Polls
show Romney with a single-digit lead in Wisconsin, which holds its
primary Tuesday along with the state of Maryland and the District of
Columbia.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who
declined to formally endorse a candidate, told CNN on Sunday the odds
are "overwhelming" that Romney will be the Republican nominee, adding
that he will make "an excellent candidate."
"A lot of people
must be concerned we're going to do really well on Tuesday, so I'm
encouraged by all of this," Santorum said when asked about Romney's
growing list of supporters. "I think it shows that the establishment is
getting nervous and we must be doing well and connecting with folks."
"I'm confident we'll have a good day on Tuesday," he added.
Earlier,
during an appearance on "FOX News Sunday," Santorum insisted he will
stay in the race, even if he is defeated in Wisconsin.
"Yes, absolutely. We are moving forward," he said, adding that the primary schedule in May looks favorable to his campaign.
"Texas
and Arkansas and West Virginia and North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky.
We've got some great states, where we are ahead in every poll in all of
those states," Santorum said.
During a separate appearance on
NBC's "Meet the Press," Santorum acknowledged that he first must clear
the hurdle of winning the April 24 primary in his home state of
Pennsylvania.
"We have to win Pennsylvania," Santorum said. "And we're going to win Pennsylvania. I have no doubt about that."
Despite
GOP concerns that the bitter primary race is only strengthening
President Barack Obama's odds of winning re-election in November,
Santorum continued to argue that choosing the wrong candidate would be
more damaging to the party's chances.
"We need a conservative,"
he said on FOX. "We need someone who can be a contrast with Barack
Obama, not the same old tired establishment person that's going to be
shoved down our throat."
