Gingrich to quit GOP race, endorse Romney

Newt Gingrich will drop his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, ending what many saw as a quixotic effort to beat Mitt Romney that was largely driven by Gingrich’s anger toward the race’s front-runner.

Gingrich announced the decision Wednesday, a day after finishing a distant second in the Delaware primary, one of five states Romney swept Tuesday. Gingrich will formally withdraw next week at an event to be held in Northern Virginia or the District and at the same time will announce his endorsement of Romney.