Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum walks away from the Babe The Blue Ox statue Sunday during a campaign stop at in Bemidji, Minn. Minnesota's GOP caucus vote is Tuesday.

BEMIDJI, Minn. — Rick Santorum has lost four straight contests.

Not that you would know it by watching him on the campaign trail, where the perpetually optimistic candidate has been drawing standing-room-only crowds and promising his political fortunes will improve if he can make it to just one more state.

“The more that this campaign evolves, the better we are going to look to be the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama,” the former Pennsylvania senator said Sunday as he toured the factory that produces the sweater vests he sells for fundraising.

“I feel confident that we're going to do well here in Minnesota. We're going to do well in Missouri on Tuesday and I think we're also going to do well in Colorado. At least I hope to do well in Bemidji anyway.”

A day earlier, he came in last place in Nevada.

He didn't mention the latest setback when he attended church services Sunday, showing no sign the GOP contest was slipping through his fingers.

Taking his ragtag campaign across the country, Santorum hopes to amass enough delegates to the Republican convention this summer to earn greater stature within the party even if he fails to achieve the GOP nomination.

It's been a month since Santorum narrowly won the Iowa caucuses and, while outright victory may be out of reach in the next states to vote, he's looking to make a statement here and in Colorado.

In Missouri, Newt Gingrich is not on the ballot, giving Santorum a better chance to make an impression against frontrunner Mitt Romney.