Gingrich begins to wind down his campaign

WASHINGTON -- Newt Gingrich began taking steps yesterday to shut down his debt-laden White House bid, setting the stage to endorse onetime rival Mitt Romney next week and rally Republicans behind their apparent nominee.

Gingrich had a friendly telephone conversation yesterday with Romney and had started planning an event where he would throw his support behind him, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said. The pair agreed to work together to unite conservatives against President Barack Obama.

"It's clear Romney is the nominee and the focus should be on defeating Obama. We should not focus on defeating ourselves," Gingrich told disappointed supporters in Kings Mountain, N.C., the morning after Romney tightened his grip on the nomination by sweeping primary contests in five states.

Gingrich also telephoned Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus and supporters, such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in states with upcoming primaries to inform them of the decision he had been hinting at for days.

Gingrich had been under pressure for some time to leave the race and clear a path for Romney.

"You have to at some point be honest about what's happening in the real world as opposed to what you would like to have happened," he told supporters at a suburban Charlotte, N.C., restaurant.

Gingrich declined to comment when asked about his plans several times during the Kings Mountain stop.

"There are times when the mountain gets bigger than your ability to climb it," he said.

Gingrich will shift to helping Republican candidates across the country and paying off more than $4.3 million in campaign debt.