ABC News is reporting that former US Senator Rick Santorum will announce he is suspending his Presidential campaign at a press conference in Pennsylvania today. In doing so, Santorum will be ensuring that Romney will reach 1,144 delegate mark to clinch the nomination well before the Republican National Convention.

Santorum had a nearly impossible task ahead of him, needing to win 75% of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination. 

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is still in the race, although no neutral observer expects him to have any chance at winning. Gingrich has vowed to stay in the race "all the way to Tampa" where the convention is being held this year. 

Santorum was recently sidelined from the campaign trail after his three year-old daughter Bella was hospitalized. Romney took his negative ads off the air when Santorum left to tend to his family. 

While conservative commentators are snarking on Twitter that Santorum dropping out could make way for yet another Newt resurgence, that is obviously not going to happen.

In dropping out now, Santorum is preserving his reputation among the conservative grassroots and social conservative leaders. Recently, Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, suggested it was time to drop out.

Santorum's exit is about a month later than former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee exited in 2008. Like Huckabee, Santorum used a surprise showing in Iowa, combined with strong social conservative support, to challenge the establishment-backed frontrunner.

With Santorum out, let's be honest. This race is over. Mitt Romney is the Republican nominee for President in 2012.