Gingrich Finally Tells His Delegates: Back Romney

Newt Gingrich exited the race for the GOP nomination on May 2, but it took him another three and a half months to let go of his 142 delegates. The former GOP candidate released his delegates last night via a letter posted to his website, reports the AP. And though CNN notes that he had, on more than one occasion, vowed to hang in there right up until the convention began, he is now urging those delegates to back the Romney-Ryan ticket.

"It is time now for all Republicans to come together in common purpose to defeat President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden," he wrote, going on to release all delegates "bound or pledged" to him. "At the same time, I call upon them and all Americans committed to a safer and more prosperous American future to join Callista and me in strongly supporting the Romney-Ryan ticket. Together, we can and will defeat Barack Obama in November." (More Newt Gingrich stories.)