Santorum Claims Victory for Conservatism After Twin Wins February 7, 2012, 11:16 pm Rick Santorum declared that "conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota" Tuesday night as he gloated about his twin victories over Mitt Romney in the ongoing presidential contest. "We doubled him up here and in Minnesota," a triumphant Mr. Santorum told a crowd in Missouri, noting his apparent double-digit victories in the two states. Mr. Santorum said the votes in the two midwestern states would be "not just heard loud and wide across the states of Missouri and Minnesota," he said. He said they would be heard across the country. Maybe in Massachusetts they were heard particularly loud tonight. That last comment was an unmistakeable dig at Mr. Romney, who has all-but ignored Mr. Santorum during the past several weeks. The crowd cheered loudly throughout Mr. Santorum's speech as they celebrated victories that would not have been expected just several days ago. But Mr. Santorum quickly turned his attention to President Obama. "He thinks he knows better about how to run your lives and manage your health care," Mr. Santorum said as he repeatedly accused Mr. Obama of not listening to the will of the American people. "I don't stand here to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney," he said. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama.