Rick Santorum has won the Alabama and Mississippi Republican primaries, according to projections by the Associated Press.

The former Pennsylvania Senator’s pair of wins will help cement him as the top challenger to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

It may also be the beginning of the end for former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), who had hoped to do better in his native South.

A representative for Gingrich said he had no intention of dropping out.

“We’re going on,” spokesman R.C. Hammond told Reuters. “We’re going to Tampa. No matter what happens.”

Romney still remains the favorite to win the nomination because of a substantial lead in delegates, but he has yet to close the deal with GOP conservative stalwarts.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul was not actively competing in today’s primaries.

Hawaii Republicans were also scheduled to vote in a caucus to select the state’s 20 delegates, but results were not known this evening.