
Santorum, 53, had 34 per cent of the vote with 25 per cent of precincts reporting. Exit polls had already showed Santorum with a lead in Oklahoma, and CNN and other broadcasters declared him the victor after early results showed a consistent trend.
He emerged in February as the top rival to Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney, who was tied for second place in Oklahoma with former US House speaker Newt Gingrich, both with 27 per cent.//DPA