Johnston, Iowa (CNN) – Rick Santorum downplayed expectations just a touch in the hours leading up to the Iowa caucuses.
Asked if he was feeling confident about caucus night, Santorum did not predict a victory.
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"Well, I feel like if we can crack the top three that would be great," Santorum told CNN.
Aides to the former Pennsylvania senator are cautiously optimistic. In a sign of Santorum's continued momentum, campaign aides say roughly a dozen extra phone lines were added to their headquarters Tuesday.
A Santorum spokesman says the rising GOP contender drew some of his largest crowds to date at events in Central Iowa Monday.
Santorum told CNN he plans to fight hard to win the New Hampshire primary, where Mitt Romney is considered a heavy favorite.
In the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary, Santorum plans only a day of events in South Carolina where several GOP rivals are headed after Iowa.
"We're gonna run hard in both," Santorum said about New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Santorum said he's not surprised about his stunning surge of momentum at just the right moment before the Iowa caucuses.
"You know what, I'm really not surprised by it. I've always had confidence in the people of Iowa," Santorum said.
Heading off to one more campaign stop, Santorum was dressed as if it was any other day in his marathon journey to the Iowa caucuses. He was wearing his trademark sweater vest and cowboy boots. Santorum planned to watch the returns come in at a hotel in Johnston with his family and supporters.
Also see:
Bachmann looks ahead to South Carolina
From CNN Politics
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Rick Santorum has a long history of being a major player in the inside the beltway Lobbyist game.
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I think what cracked was his brain when he fell and had an image of himself as president.
Poor over populator. Not a chance. Shouldn't he be using the money he is wasting on all those kids of his?
Rick Santorum and the phony conservative evangelicals. Let's be clear, these folks don't represent the image of Christ.
Santorum does not have the executive experience, money, or organization to go past Iowa !! Rick Perry is the only anti Romney candidate that can go the distance to defeat Romney and then Obama ! PERRY/RUBIO 2012 !!
Didn't Santorum bring home a dead baby to take family pictures with the body?
I can't believe that people are so enthralled with Rick Santorum. We in Pa. were glad to get rid of him. He and his family lived in a large home in Virginia and owned a small vacant property in PA. while he was Senator. We weren't a good enough place to live and raise a family.
@ acura2010: You are SO right! These so-called-Christian-GOPers do not represent Christ!
Of all the GOP clowns Santorum is the most dangerous. He is out to take freedoms away.
Well, of course he's trying to work the expectations game. What did you expect? And quite frankly, I would be suspect of anyone who comes out and predicts a victory. That would be foolish.
I still just can't get over him saying that John McCain did not understand what torture really was....Ignorant.