URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum says for voters interested in a conservative -- he's it.

Santorum spoke to an enthusiastic crowd waiting for results in the Iowa Republican caucuses, which turned out to be a surging second place finish, only eight votes behind Mitt Romney.

Santorum told supporters, "It's now or never for conservative voters" and that he is "the only authentic, passionate conservative who can unite the GOP."

Santorum vowed to offer something different by focusing on bolstering the nation's industrial base.

He says some Republicans think "everything will be fine" if they simply cut taxes and government spending.

In an appeal to younger voters, he warned against big government saying, "It will crush your pocketbook in the future."

He says his strong showing means it's "game on" for the party's presidential nomination.

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