Santorum lobbies for Family Leader endorsement

Rick Santorum said Tuesday that he was hopeful his campaign would earn the endorsement of the Family Leader, and Iowa-based Christian organization with significant pull among conservatives in the state, and that he believes his campaign is primed for a late-inning push to the top of the Iowa polls.

"It'd be a great boost for us," Santorum said in reference to the Family Leader endorsement during an interview on Fox News. "Whoever gets this endorsement is clearly going to have the edge."

The group's leader, Bob Vander Plaats, has been advocating that the organization endorse Newt Gingrich, his preferred pick in the caucuses. But rank-and-file concern over Gingrich's past — which includes multiple divorces and admitted marital infidelities — has thrust the endorsement into question, opening up the door for other conservative candidates like Santorum or Michele Bachmann. The group is expected to make its choice later Tuesday morning.

Santorum said he might have an edge because of his hard campaigning in the state.

"You've got to work Iowa," Santorum said.

"We've done all 99 counties, some more than once," he added. "We're building up momentum."

Santorum also dismissed national polls that showed rivals Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney with 10 times the number of supporters.

"People aren't paying that close attention, but the people in Iowa are," Santorum said. "Those folks in first place are not going up, but we are. We've got a track record of winning elections."

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