Romney SuspENDS Campaign

Byron York is reporting that Romney sources are strongly suggesting that Gov. Romney will be ending his campaign. His “major” speech at CPAC today (actually starting in a few minutes) will probably be his concession speech. Probably a smart move to go out an a high note, looking forward to 2012.

As President Hinckley told Romney:

“I was in Salt Lake and had the chance to go by him and see him and told him that our family was going to be thinking about running for president,” said Mr. Romney. “He smiled and said it would be a great experience if you won and a great experience if you lost.”

UPDATE: Time confirms it.

UPDATE 2: Drudge describes it as a campaign suspension.  Marc Ambinder explains that this allows Romney to use his delegates to influence the nominee and get some concessions.

 UPDATE 3:  Michelle Malkin is liveblogging his speech.

Here is an excerpt [via Ambinder via AP]:

”If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or (Barack) Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror,” Romney planned to say in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference.

”This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters … many of you right here in this room … have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming president. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.”

(Possibly) Related posts:

1. “Romney strikes bipartisan tone at GOP fundraiser”
2. Will RomneyCare scuttle Romney 2012?