Louisiana voters will finally have a chance to voice their support for Republican presidential candidates Saturday during the state’s primary election.
With 46 delegates at stake, the candidates have had their eyes on the Pelican State in recent days.
During an interview with New Orleans’ WWL-TV anchor Mike Hoss on Wednesday, Rick Santorum said he felt confident he will win Louisiana.
“This is the last chance in a sense for the conservative area of the country to plant their flag,” Santorum said about Louisiana’s primary. “The delegate math is very, very imprecise right now. That’s why all this stuff about ‘Well, it’s over. It will take an act of God’ – all this stuff that the Romney campaign floats out, it’s just rhetoric.”
Rasmussen Reports released Thursday the results of a telephone survey, which was conducted Wednesday, of 750 likely GOP primary voters in Louisiana. The survey recorded 43-percent support for Santorum, while Mitt Romney held 31 percent. Coming in third was Newt Gingrich with 16 percent, while Ron Paul trailed with 5 percent.
Following Santorum’s wins in the Alabama and Mississippi primaries, some students predict he will take Louisiana, as well.
Biology sophomore Seth McVea said he agrees with Santorum’s policies.
Though McVea said Romney also has a chance to win the state, he thinks Louisiana voters will favor Santorum’s conservative stance.
“Romney’s conservative, but not like Santorum is,” he said. “It’s hard for Romney to stand for conservative beliefs when he’s that wealthy.”
After viewing recent polls, Nick George, biology sophomore, said he also thinks Santorum will win Louisiana, but he’ll be supporting Romney.
“Out of the choice, [Romney] is the best,” he said. “He has better policies and better plans compared to the other GOP candidates.”
While Gingrich has lagged behind in past primaries, George said Gingrich may have a better chance at winning Louisiana than Romney.
“He’s from the South, and more people may be able to relate with him,” he said. “The South is also really conservative Christian, and because Romney is Mormon, he may not have Louisiana’s support.”
But McVea said Gingrich’s personal life, especially his divorces, may dissuade Louisiana voters from supporting him.
“Louisiana has strong morals and family values,” McVea said. “That stuff may not fly in Louisiana.”
But some Louisiana voters find themselves on the fence.
Alex Bossetta, business administration sophomore, said she plans to vote in the primary, but she is still undecided.
“I think Romney will win Louisiana, but I still don’t know who I’m voting for,” she said.
 
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Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]