WASHINGTON — Republican presidential contenders Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are vowing to stay in the race even though Rick Santorum is not.
Both men say they are the true conservative candidates to beat President Barack Obama in the November election.
Santorum’s departure Tuesday has pushed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney closer to being the Republican Party’s nominee his summer. But Gingrich and Paul say there is still time left for voters to pick a more suitable alternative.
Gingrich took to Twitter late Tuesday to call Santorum’s departure “the last stand for conservatives” and urge supporters to donate to his campaign. Paul’s campaign, meanwhile, says the Texas congressman is “the last — and real — conservative alternative” to Romney.