Romney follows Santorum to Puerto Rico

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico -- Looking toward the critical primary in Illinois, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney wrapped up a shortened campaign trip to Puerto Rico Saturday as he prepared for more tough contests against chief rival Rick Santorum.

The former Massachusetts governor dramatically curtailed his trip to the U.S. territory, which has its primary Sunday, in favor of spending more time in Illinois, where polls have shown him slightly ahead of Santorum. Romney had planned to spend the weekend and visit a polling place Sunday, but instead left the island immediately after a morning appearance.

Santorum left Puerto Rico last week and was spending the morning in Missouri, where he already won a primary that awarded no delegates. Missouri Republicans were meeting in county caucuses Saturday, the first step toward choosing delegates to the national convention who are committed to specific candidates. Santorum was headed to Illinois last night.

Romney campaigned Saturday morning with Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno.

"It was Ronald Reagan who very famously in our party said that it was important for the people of Puerto Rico to have the choice to become a state, and if the people of Puerto Rico choose that path, I will be happy to lead that effort in Washington," Romney told a crowd in San Juan after they began chanting "Statehood now!"

Puerto Rico's delegates will be split proportionally among the candidates, though if someone wins more than 50 percent of the vote they'll receive all 20 delegates.

Campaigning in southern Illinois Saturday afternoon, Santorum was looking to lay the ground for another primary shocker Tuesday, lumping Romney and President Barack Obama on everything from health policy to fossil-fuel regulations.

"People ask me why I am the best candidate to run against Barack Obama," Santorum said. "I feel like in some respects like I am running against Barack Obama here in this primary because Mitt Romney has the same positions as Barack Obama in this primary."

Santorum attended a rally of about 100 people in the gymnasium of a Christian school that was to host a caucus a couple hours later. He spoke less than four minutes and shook hands for another 10 before heading out to another caucus site.

Acknowledging there would be no winner Saturday, Santorum told a reporter that Missouri's caucuses still were important: "Delegates. It's as simple as that. They matter."