Santorum far ahead in early Minn. returns tonight; Romney trailing

WASHINGTON (AP)

Former Sen. Rick Santorum jumped ahead Tuesday night in early returns from Minnesota's caucuses, hoping to extinguish front-runner Mitt Romney's modest campaign winning streak and launch a comeback of his own in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Colorado Republicans held caucuses as well, and the 70 delegates at stake in the two states combined were the biggest one-day total so far in the GOP race to name an opponent for President Barack Obama.

Returns from 9 percent of Minnesota's precincts showed Santorum with 44 percent support, Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 26 percent and Romney - who won the state in his first try for the nomination four years ago - with 18 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich trailed with 12 percent.

Romney prevailed in both Minnesota and Colorado in 2008, the first time he ran for the nomination, but the GOP has become more conservative in both states since then under the influence of tea party activists.

There were 37 Republican National Convention delegates at stake in Minnesota and 33 more in Colorado.

In addition, Missouri held a non-binding primary on Tuesday. The state picks its delegates at caucuses next month.

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, campaigned aggressively in all three states, seeking a breakthrough to revitalize a campaign that has struggled since his narrow first-place finish in the Iowa caucuses a month ago.