Big night last night for Rick Santorum, winning both the Mississippi and Alabama primaries. While Newt Gingrich is talking a good game, he’s staying in all the way to Tampa in Auigust, where the GOP will hold it’s nominating convention. But if you’re Newt, do you really want to stay in at this point? I mean, like it or not, accept it or not, the GOP race for President has come down to two very distinct choices: Mitt Romney, the fiscal moderate and social moderate (I think), or Rick Santorum, the more conservative moderate (at least compared to Romney) and social conservative.

And, of course, you have Ron Paul, but he’s doing nothing but attracting only the most ardent and cult of followers. Let’s be frank here: there is no way Ron Paul stands a ghost of a chance of being the Republican nominee. Period.

Look, I like Newt, have liked him all along, and wish he was the GOP front-runner. I respect his intellect and his way of campaigning. But he really blew it back in December when, having ascended to the top in all the polls, he allowed Romney’s negative ads to get under his skin. Had he kept to the high road, playing the veteran statesman who had seen it all before while sticking to his campaign of “big ideas”, he might have ridden out the storm. Instead, he started attacking Romney’s practice of free-market capitalism, then his statements about establishing a moon colony while the country is beyond sinking in debt turned all but his most fervent followers against him. Which, in turn, gave Rick Santorum a chance to take his turn and make his climb in the polls to where he is today.

As much as he must hate to admit it, Newt has to know that the race has come down to two choices for Republicans and conservatives. Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum. Both flawed candidates, both with their strengths and weaknesses. Romney hasn’t closed the deal with conservatives, and one has to think at this point that he never will. Santorm is still untested as a frontrunner and needs to show he has the stuff to go head-to-head against Obama in the Fall.

And then, of course, you’ve got Donald Trump threatening to run as an independent should Santorum win the nomination, which will guarantee another four years of Barack Obama as President.

If I’m Sarah Palin, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, or Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, I’m wondering how on earth I’ve allowed this race to get to this point. It’s pretty disheartening.

All this being said, it’s time for Newt Gingrich to read the writing that’s on the wall. It’s time for him to do the right thing and let the GOP race play out with voters choosing between two very different candidates (and potential election scenarios). It’s time for Newt Gingrich to drop out and let the battle between Romney and Santorum commence. In doing so he’ll gain the respect of conservatives everywhere and position himself for a plum spot in any Romney or Santorum administration, were they to defeat Barack Obama in November. It’s time to say goodnight, Newt.