A new Rasmussen survey taken after the Illinois primary shows Rick Santorum maintaining a double digit lead over Mitt Romney in advance of Saturday's Louisiana contest.

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is comfortably ahead in Louisiana with that state's Republican Primary just two days away.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in Louisiana finds Santorum with a 12-point lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - 43% to 31%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who has pinned his hopes on capturing other Southern states beyond South Carolina and his native Georgia runs a distant third with 16% support. Texas Congressman Ron Paul comes in last with five percent (5%). One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

It's desperation time for Santorum. He not only needs to win, he needs the kind of big victory Romney scored in Illinois. He is going to have to begin winning 65% or more of the delegates if he ever hopes to catch up, or even just deny Romney a first ballot victory at the convention.