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Rick Santorum Visits MN Before Caucus

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) -- Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Rick Santorum made a stop at a Twin Cities mega church just two days before Minnesota's caucuses.

Santorum visited the non-denominational Grace Church in Eden Prairie where he took questions from the pastor. The discussion centered around Santorum's faith in both his public and private life.

"About a year or so ago, when I was getting around the country, 'Are you running for president?' and I would say, 'No, I'm walking --- and the reason I say I'm walking is I'm trying to walk the path that Christ has laid out to me,'" Santorum said.

Heavy applause showed the congregation of nearly 3,000 liked what they were hearing.

"I was really interested and delighted to come," said parishioner Mark Hyde.

Senior pastor Troy Dobbs announced that the mega church wasn't endorsing Santorum.

"It is, I think, a great opportunity for us to hear about the faith story of a man engaged in politics at the highest level in our country," Dobbs said.

After the 15-minute question and answer session, the Santorum did a quick meet and greet with parishioners.

With his only victory in Iowa, Santorum now seems to be hitting Minnesota hard with stops scheduled in Bemidji, Lake Waconia, and Rochester. His commercials are also frequently hitting Minnesota airwaves.

"I think Tuesday's going to be a good day for us," Santorum told reporters. "I think it'll help hopefully re-set the race a little bit."

It's a hope several in attendance seem to share.

"This just confirmed a lot of things for me," Hyde said.

A survey recently released from Public Policy Polling shows Santorum currently has the lead in Minnesota with 29 percent of the vote. Mitt Romney follows close behind with 27 percent. Newt Gingrigh follows with 22 percent and Ron Paul holds an estimated 19 percent of the vote.

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