Get real: Newt's not dropping out

A half-dozen influential conservative leaders who haven’t endorsed a candidate suggested in interviews that while stepping aside would help Gingrich now more than ever, nobody really expects him to do so.

“If, in fact, Gingrich was being anything other than Gingrich, that might be a wise move, but you don’t actually think that’s going to happen,” said David Keene, the president of the National Rifle Association. “It’s all about Newt.”…

“This is Newt’s chance to be Winston Churchill. He’s not interested in being the unknown conservative leader to step aside,” said a prominent conservative who asked not to be named because he works with the candidates. “If you’re Newt Gingrich, you could live with losing to Romney. You can’t live with losing to Santorum.”