Updated at 10:20 p.m. PT
(CBS News) - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum will win the Missouri primary as well as the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses, CBS News projects, putting him back in contention for the GOP nomination.
With Minnesota and Missouri under his belt, Santorum now has as many primary victories as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. He can also attempt to reclaim the mantle as the conservative alternative to Romney, overshadowing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
In Colorado, 92% of precincts have reported and Santorum is the projected winner with 39% of the vote. Romney finished second with 35% of the vote.
With 1,551 of 4,137 precincts reporting in Minnesota, Santorum won 46 percent of the vote, with Rep. Ron Paul of Texas coming in second place with 26 percent. Romney earned 16 percent while Gingrich took 11 percent.
In Missouri, with 2,528 of 3,134 precincts reporting, Santorum carried 55 percent of the vote, while Romney took 25 percent and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas took 12 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich failed to get on the ballot in Missouri.
The Minnesota caucuses are nonbinding, as are the caucuses in Colorado, where voters are also weighing in Tuesday night. Missouri's contest has been described as simply a "beauty contest," since the state's delegates will only be awarded after the March 17 caucuses. Still, the "Show Me" state presented the former Pennsylvania senator with his best opportunity to re-emerge as the conservative alternative to Romney, particularly with Gingrich off the ballot.
Santorum just barely edged out Romney in the Iowa caucuses in January, but he fell behind Romney and Gingrich in the following nominating contests. Santorum spent more time than any of the other candidates in Missouri, which borders Iowa.
Missouri election results
Colorado election results
Minnesota election results
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney should have the advantage in Colorado and Minnesota, which he carried in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries. The Romney campaign, however, sought to tamp down expectations Tuesday.
Romney awaited the returns Tuesday night in Colorado, where his prospects were higher. He spent most of the past week campaigning there, only making one stop in Minnesota while overlooking Missouri.
Gingrich was in Ohio on Tuesday night, where Republican voters will weigh in on "Super Tuesday" on March 6, along with nine other states.
