illinois voters start heading to the polls in a republican primary where 69 delegates are up for grabs. polls show mitt romney with a lead as the voting begins, some as w a big lead. he's hoping a convincing win in illinois will further make his case that math is on his side. rick santorum will be watching the returns tonight in gettysbu gettysburg, pennsylvania. yesterday he was on the defensive over these comments he made during a final campaign stop in illinois. >> we need a candidate who will be a fighter for freedom. who's going to get up and make that the central theme in this race because it is the central theme thin this race. i don't care what the unemployment rate is going to be. it doesn't matter to me. my campaign doesn't hinge on unemployment rates or growth rates. there's something more foundational going on here. >> mitt romney didn't waste time trying to capitalize on santorum's remarks. >> i'm kerneled abo concerned a people out of work. one of the people running for the no, ma'am it nation also