Santorum fails to qualify for IN ballot

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is fighting an Indiana election board's ruling that he does not have enough support to appear on the state ballot in the May 8 primary.

All statewide candidates are required to obtain 500 valid signatures from each of Indiana's nine congressional districts in order to be placed on the ballot. The Marion County Board of Elections has ruled that Santorum fell 24 signatures short in Indiana's 7th District.

Santorum told reporters in Missouri Friday that he is challenging the ruling. Indiana supporters say the board incorrectly threw out 200 signatures submitted by the campaign.

The Indiana Republican Party says former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney have all gathered enough signatures to qualify for the primary.