COLUMBUS, Ohio — The super political action committee supporting Republican candidate Rick Santorum is demanding that rival Newt Gingrich end his primary campaign.

“Newt has become a hindrance to a conservative alternative” to Mitt Romney, said Stuart Roy, an adviser to the Red, White and Blue Fund, the super PAC backing Santorum. “Based on his electoral performance [Tuesday] night and his out-of-step record it is time for Newt Gingrich to exit the Republican nominating process.”