Gingrich thanks supporters in video
(CBS News) Newt Gingrich always took pride in doing things differently.
And his decision to end his long-shot bid for the White House is no different.
The day before his campaign's official "suspension," the former House speaker gave his supporters "insider advance notice" of the decision and thanked them for his support in a nearly two-minute web video urging supporters to do everything in their power to defeat President Obama in November.
"I wanted you to know first because your help was vital," Gingrich said in the video, called "Thank You To All Of Our Supporters," released Tuesday morning.
Gingrich said last week in North Carolina that he would suspend his campaign this week.
"I think you have to at some point be honest with what's happening in the real world, as opposed to what you'd like to have happened," Gingrich saidlast Wednesday, acknowledging the reality that he would not be the Republican nominee for president in 2012.
Gingrich praised his supporters for their dedication to the cause.
"Because of your help and your support, we were able to put up a terrific campaign. I want you to know that Callista and I are both very grateful to everybody across the country," he said in the web video. "People who walked up to us told us they were for us, that we're in their prayers, that they want to do everything they could do to help."
Gingrich has yet to officially endorse Mitt Romney - a rival at whom he once had no shortage of insults to level - but he is expected to do so soon.
"We're still faced with a tremendous crisis of our country's future. A re-election of Barack Obama would be a genuine disaster. And all of us have an obligation, I think, to do everything we can to defeat Barack Obama," Gingrich said in the video. "I want you to know that we're going to continue out there on the road - both Callista and I will be talking, campaigning, making speeches, doing everything we can to help defeat Barack Obama."
