Primary Update: Sunday 7:00 a.m. The final Louisiana Primary Results are in. Rick Santorum has won in a romp.

Saturday 9:52 p.m. Rick Santorum wins the Louisiana primary, no surprises here. Newt Gingrich had an awful performance. Santorum ended up with over 40% of the vote, beating Mitt Romney by over 20% and leaving Ron Paul and New Gingrich without any delegates. 

5:31 p.m. Enthusiasm has been light in the state – but if Santorum wins the Louisiana Primary as expected, it will win number 11 for him, equaling the number Ronald Reagan won in the 1976 race.

3:15 p.m. From Matty Carville– "It’s clear that the election is a hot topic and has made its way into daily conversation [among teenagers]. People frequently discuss the political views of their parents, boyfriends, teachers and teammates. Teens are making an effort to be politically informed, and often bring it up in the classroom. 

Because people know I am a PolicyMic pundit, I often get questions like “What is Mitt Romney’s stance on immigration?” or “Ron Paul is adorable! Do you think he has a chance at being the nominee?” The most interesting comment I heard recently was, “Y’all know I’m pro-life and take it very seriously, but I feel threatened by Rick Santorum.” 

2:00 p.m. From Emmanuel Felton in New Orleans – "It is a clear and mild day in New Orleans. This is good news for Mitt Romney. As he has done in urban environments across the country, Romney is likely to outperform his opponents in New Orleans and the inner suburbs. ... If conventional wisdom holds up, Romney should easily clinch the 3 delegates from New Orleans’s congressional district. The battle will be in the suburbs. Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum all spent at least part of Friday in the New Orleans suburbs. Not only could Romney secure another 3 delegates from a relatively moderate congressional district surrounding the city, this part of the state will be critical to denying Santorum a landslide in the Pelican State."

10:20 a.m. PolicyMic contributor and Louisiana resident Katrina Rogers writes, "Santorum ads have graced New Orleans television but the electoral buzz in the city is about local elections with the Democratic Executive Committee, New Orleans City Council At-Large and Sate Central Committee having openings on the ballot."

10:10 a.m. In Louisiana yesterday, Rick Santorum held a campaign event at a gun range. While he was shooting, a spectator yelled, "Pretend it's Obama." The comment is now being investiaged by the Secret Service.

9:45 a.m. Polls are open and the voting has started as of 6am this morning in Louisiana. Rick Santorum is likely to win, even after he made controversial comments this week about Mitt Romney.

Friday 6:30 p.m. Public Policy Polling shows Rick Santorum headed for "commanding win" in Louisiana on Saturday. He has a 42% to 28% lead over Mitt Romney. Newt Gingrich has 18%, Ron Paul is in last with 8%.

1 p.m. Rick Santorum Domninating Santorum leads Mitt Romney, 42% to 28%, among likely Republican primary voters in thesurvey by Public Policy Polling. Paul is currently polling at 11%. This might be Romney's last big chance to win in the South.

Thursday 2:10 p.m. Rick Santorum is way ahead in the Louisiana Primary according to a new Rasmussen survey in Louisiana. The survey shows Rick Santorum with 43% of the vote to Mitt Romney's 31%, to Newt Gingrich's 16%, and Ron Paul's 5%.

On Saturday, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum will square off in the Louisiana primary, and for the first time in many years, the state may play a real role in determining the GOP presidential nominee.

Tuesday 8:15 p.m. Spending is relatively even in Louisiana. Santorum his super PAC have committed nearly half a million dollars to advertising on broadcast television, cable, and radio, while Romney's super PAC has put aside $600,000.

8:10 p.m. A poll released today by Magellan Strategies, gave Santorum a 13-point lead over Romney, with Gingrich 16 points behind Santorum and in third place. Santorum had also led an earlier poll from GCR & Associates, which had been conducted prior to his victories in Alabama and Mississippi.

Monday 10:50 p.m. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain endorsed Romney for president Monday. "Conservatives looking to win in November and replace President Obama's failed policies with a pro-growth agenda should look no further than Mitt Romney," said Dardenne, the No. 2 Republican in the state.

10:00 p.m. Politico reports Rick Santorum's super PAC is pumping an additional $128,400 into Louisiana ahead of Saturday's primary there.

THE BACKGROUND: This year's Louisiana primary marks the first meaningful contest in the Pelican State in recent memory. "I can't remember another presidential nominating process in the last 20 years where Louisiana has had as much relevance as we do this year," Jason Dore, state GOP executive director, told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune. 

But despite its importance, the candidates have spent very little time or money campaigning in Louisiana, instead pouring their resources into Illinois. 

The favorite to win is Rick Santorum, who will likely play well with southern voters as he did in Alabama and Mississippi. Heading into the primary, a poll by WWL-TV, News Orleans, indicated Santorum led Romney, 25 percent to 21 percent. But 26 percent of poll participants said they were undecided.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal won't endorse anyone until after the primary, a source close to the governor told CNN. Jindal is considered to be on a short list of potential running mates for the eventual GOP nominee.

In 2008, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee defeated John McCain to win in Louisiana. Romney finished third with 6.3 percent of the vote.

There are 46 delegates at stake.

After a 10-day break, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Wisconsin will hold primaries on April 3.

PolicyMic will be covering the Louisiana primary live, regularly updating this page over the course of the week. Check back for more updates.

Santorum ads have graced New Orleans television but the electoral buzz in the city is about localelections with Democratic Executive Committee, New Orleans City Council At-Large and State CentralCommittee openings on the ballot.