President 2012: Newt Gingrich Urges Santorum and Perry to Drop Out of Presidential Race – Bring Conservatives Together Against Romney

@4:53 Gingrich: One of my goals over the next four days is to convince South Carolina conservatives that voting for me is the one way that they can stop a moderate from becoming the nominee. And if I can convince enough people that the other votes are for nice guys who aren’t going to win that they functionally help Romney become the nominee.

Newt Gingrich is correct and the conservative vote is split and there is NO consensus candidate.

Buoyed by his strong debate performance in Myrtle Beach, Newt Gingrich has called his rivals to drop out of the race because “consolidating into a Gingrich candidacy” would “virtually guarantee victory” in the South Carolina primary and stop Mitt Romney becoming the Republican nominee.

Making the case to a crowd of almost 200 in an art gallery in the old railroad junction town of Florence, South Carolina he said: “If you look at the polling, I’m the only conservative who realistically has a chance to be the nominee.

“So any vote for Santorum or Perry in effect is a vote to allow Romney to become the nominee. Because we’ve got to bring conservatives together in order to stop him.”

But, do Santorum and Perry care?

Probably not.

I suspect Perry will withdraw after a dismal Saturday performance in South Carolina and Santorum may not be able to continue due to campaign cash problems.

Newt could come in second in South Carolina (or even win it) and should a Super Pac fund him enough, weather Florida and hope for better election outcomes – one on one with Romney.

But, is it too late?