It is hard to believe that as recently as this Monday, Newt Gingrich was still considered to be the alternative to Mitt Romney. But judging by yesterday’s speeches at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Gingrich has become something of an afterthought, at best.

Two of Gingrich’s top endorsers, Herman Cain and Rick Perry, both addressed conservative activists in the Marriott Wardman Park main ballroom yesterday. It would have been a perfect opportunity for either of them to devote some of their speaking time to making the case for a Gingrich nomination. But not only did neither of them make a case for Newt, both former candidates didn’t even mention his name. Not even once. Its like Newt never existed.