GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Bowing to the inevitable, Rick Santorum quit the presidential campaign Tuesday, clearing the way for Mitt Romney to claim the Republican nomination.
Santorum, appearing with his wife and children in his home state of Pennsylvania, told supporters the race for him was over, but the fight to defeat President Barack Obama would go on.
He pointedly made no mention or endorsement of Romney, whom Santorum had derided as an unworthy standard-bearer for the GOP. The former Pennsylvania senator stressed that he’d taken his campaign farther than anyone expected.
“We will continue to go out and fight and defeat President Barack Obama,” Santorum declared.
Santorum spoke with Romney before the announcement, a Republican source close to the campaign said.
The delegate totals told the tale of Santorum’s demise. Romney has more than twice as many delegates as Santorum and is on pace to reach the 1,144 needed to clinch the nomination by early June. Still in the race, but not considered a factor: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.