WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Rick Santorum, who's risen at just the right time for tonight's caucuses, says a strong finish will propel him to Florida.

"We're absolutely coming down to Florida," he told the Buzz after a Rock the Caucus event at a high school. "We've got a lot of folks in Florida that have been contacting us. We've been signing up folks and getting coordinators in place. We expect to do very, very well in Florida after we surprise folks here tonight."

Santorum would have to pick up support quickly in the state. In the September Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando, he placed fourth behind Herman Cain, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. But the race has been wild, evidenced by Cain's withdrawal, Perry's collapse and now, the Santorum surge.

Santorum addresses students at West Des Moines valley High School on Tuesday.